UN Secretary-General Guterres condemns 'Israeli escalation' in Lebanon, calls for IDF withdrawal

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, in an X/Twitter post on Tuesday, condemned "the mounting civilian casualties, the distress & displacement caused by the evacuation orders, and the scenes of massive destruction & devastation" due to what he termed an "escalation of Israeli military operations in southern Lebanon." He called for an IDF withdrawal and an end to hostilities, stating, "The Lebanese State must have the monopoly on the use of force." Guterres also emphasized the protection of civilians and civilian objects, asserting that attacks against them are unacceptable. His spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, reiterated the importance of respecting international humanitarian law. This statement comes as Guterres approaches the end of his second term on December 31, 2026, with candidates already vying for his succession.