Concerned by rocket fire into Israel, Secretary-General urges ‘maximum restraint’ on all sides

Secretary-General Ban has expressed great concern over yesterday’s firing of rockets from the area of Tyre – within United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon’s (UNIFIL) area of operations – towards Israel, and noted that the missions was investigating the circumstances of the incident in cooperation with the Lebanese Armed Forces and the Israel Defense Forces.

In a statement issued by his spokesperson in New York, the Secretary-General noted retaliatory strikes by the Israel Defense Forces in Lebanon in the area of Na’ameh, and condemned any and all violations of Security Council resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 war between Israel and the Lebanese group Hizbollah, and calls for respect for the Blue Line, the disarming of all militias in Lebanon, and an end to arms smuggling in the area..

Mr. Ban also urged all concerned to exercise maximum restraint and cooperate with UNIFIL in order to prevent an escalation. “The parties must fully adhere to resolution 1701 (2006) and respect the cessation of hostilities agreement,” he said, adding: “The United Nations is committed to continuing to work with the parties to ensure that the calm that has prevailed continues to be sustained.”