Lebanon remains “a beacon of tolerance and co-existence” in an otherwise combustible region, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon declared today, adding that in the face of growing challenges along its borders, the Middle Eastern country will need to continue its close collaboration with the United Nations and other international stakeholders.

The Security Council today renewed the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) for another year, while strongly condemning attempts to threaten the country’s security and stability.

The United Nations envoy for Lebanon today stressed the urgent need for the country’s leaders to agree on the election of a new president as soon as possible in light of the situation on the ground, which is marked by renewed terrorist threats and the growing refugee population resulting from the conflict in neighbouring Syria.

The top United Nations official in Lebanon strongly condemned today’s suicide bombing at an Internal Security Forces checkpoint in the eastern part of the country.