Security Council Press Statement on Lebanon

The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Gérard Araud ( France):

The members of the Security Council deplored the shooting of an Israel Defense Forces soldier by a Lebanese Armed Forces soldier, on 15 December in the vicinity of the Blue Line at Naqoura, and called for calm and continued restraint by all parties.

The members of the Security Council called upon the Israel Defense Forces and the Lebanese Armed Forces to continue to cooperate with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) to ascertain the facts related to the incident.  In this regard, Council members welcomed the extraordinary tripartite meeting convened by UNIFIL on 16 December and the reaffirmation by the parties of their commitment to the cessation of hostilities and of their interest in preserving calm and stability along the Blue Line.  Council members also welcomed the reaffirmation by the Lebanese authorities of their full commitment to resolution 1701 (2006).

The members of the Security Council noted that UNIFIL confirmed the Lebanese Government’s preliminary findings which indicate that the shooting was an individual action by a soldier.  They further underlined that it remains a serious contravention of the existing operational rules and procedures as related to resolution 1701 (2006).  The members of the Security Council looked forward to the completion of UNIFIL and Lebanon’s investigations into the incident.

* *** *

For information media • not an official record