UN envoy denounces latest attack on Lebanese security forces
Special Coordinator for Lebanon Derek Plumbly.
24 June 2014 – The United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon has strongly condemned the suicide bombing that took place yesterday at the entrance to the southern suburbs of Beirut in which a member of the security forces was killed and a number of people were injured.
The attack, which occurred close to a Lebanese army checkpoint at the Tayyouneh roundabout, comes on the heels of last Friday’s suicide bombing at an Internal Security Forces checkpoint in Dahr El-Baidar.
“The Special Coordinator underlined the need for continued unity in Lebanon in the face of the terrorist threat,” said a statement issued by Derek Plumbly’s office.
“He paid tribute to all that the security forces are doing to sustain security and stability in the country, and again underlined the United Nations’ solidarity with the Government and people of Lebanon as they stand up to this threat.”
Also today, the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Hervé Ladsous, continued his visit to Lebanon, meeting with Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Tammam Salam in Beirut, as well as the Commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), General Jean Kahwaji.
During the meetings, issues related to the implementation of UN resolution 1701 – which ended the 2006 war between Israel and Hizbollah – were discussed, with particular focus on the situation in area of operations of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and the cooperation between the peacekeeping mission and the LAF in southern Lebanon.
“I was very encouraged by my discussions with the leaders today. They strongly reaffirmed their commitment to the full implementation of resolution 1701 and were highly appreciative of UNIFIL’s role in keeping the calm along the Blue Line in these turbulent times,” said Mr. Ladsous.
“The prevailing calm in southern Lebanon has a stabilising effect beyond the immediate area and I assured the leaders that we, UNIFIL and the UN Headquarters, will spare no efforts in keeping it this way. Lebanon has stood up commendably to the immense challenges posed by the regional developments, and we must stand together with Lebanon in supporting this endeavour.”
Mr. Ladsous also visited UNIFIL’s headquarters in Naqoura, in southern Lebanon, where he was briefed by the Head of Mission and Force Commander Major-General Paolo Serra and other staff on the mission’s operations.