The United Nations called on Israel, on Friday, to immediately withdraw from Lebanese territory, stressing that the Israeli presence inside Lebanese territory violates UN resolutions.

The UN Security Council held a hearing on the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force in the Golan Heights (UNDOF).

The ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel is holding despite its "fragile" structure, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, said in a briefing to the UN Security Council.

Lacroix stressed that the Lebanese authorities renewed their commitment to maintaining the ceasefire and complying with UN Security Council Resolution 1701 of 2006.

In 2006, Resolution 1701 was unanimously adopted by the United Nations, with the aim of stopping hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, as the Council calls for a permanent ceasefire based on the establishment of a buffer zone.

Lacroix pointed out that a gradual plan was presented, including the withdrawal of the Israeli army and the deployment of Lebanese army forces in the area, during the ceasefire mechanism meeting held on January 6.

He stressed the necessity of Israel's withdrawal from Lebanon before the end of the 60-day period under the ceasefire agreement, explaining that the Israeli army continues its movements in Lebanese territory 10 days before the end of that period.

Lacroix said that Israel destroyed some tunnels, buildings and agricultural lands, carried out air strikes, and violated Lebanese airspace.

The UN official defended Israel's actions as "an action against Hezbollah," but noted that the Israeli presence in Lebanon violates Resolution 1701.

He added: "We demand Israel's immediate withdrawal from Lebanese territory before the end of the declared period."

Since November 27, 2024, a fragile ceasefire has prevailed, ending the mutual shelling between Israel and Hezbollah that began on October 8, 2023, and then turned into a full-scale war on September 23.

The most prominent provisions of the ceasefire agreement include Israel's gradual withdrawal to the south of the Blue Line (the line marking Israel's withdrawal from Lebanon in 2000) within 60 days, and the deployment of Lebanese army and security forces along the border, crossing points, and the southern region.

The Israeli aggression on Lebanon resulted in 4,068 deaths and 16,670 wounded, including a large number of children and women, in addition to the displacement of about 1,400,000 people. Most of the victims and displaced persons were recorded after the escalation of the aggression on September 23.

- Israeli violation of the buffer zone with Syria

For his part, Patrick Gauchat, Deputy Chief of Mission of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization, said that the "Separation of Forces Agreement" signed between Israel and Syria in 1974 is still in effect, calling on both parties to fully adhere to the agreement.

In his briefing to the UN Security Council, he explained that the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force is working to establish stable channels of communication with the Syrian administration.

He stressed that the statements issued by the new Syrian administration regarding its commitment to the agreement constitute a positive step.

On Friday, the leader of the new Syrian administration, Ahmed al-Sharaa, said during a press conference that Syria is committed to the 1974 agreement, and is ready to receive UN forces and bring them into the region, and work to protect them and return things to what they were before the Israeli advance.

During his press conference with the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman, from the capital Damascus, he stressed that "Israel's advance in the region was due to the presence of Iranian militias and Hezbollah (Lebanese)."

He added, "After the liberation of Damascus, I believe that Hezbollah and Iran no longer have any presence there at all."

Patrick Gauchat reported in his briefing to the UN Security Council that the Israeli army maintained its presence in the separation zone, carried out construction work with heavy equipment and installed communications equipment.

He said that the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force informed the Israeli side that its presence and activities in the buffer zone constitute a violation of the 1974 Separation of Forces Agreement.

Immediately after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad’s regime on December 8, Israel announced the collapse of the 1974 disengagement agreement with Syria, and the deployment of its army in the demilitarized buffer zone in the Syrian Golan Heights, most of which it has occupied since 1967, and in Mount Hermon, and then penetrated the Daraa countryside, in a move condemned by the United Nations and Arab countries.

Complaints of the area's residents about the Israeli presence

Ghoshat said that local residents in the area are asking the United Nations for help to ensure the Israeli army withdraws from village centers and removes military barriers that affect agricultural activities.

He noted that complaints had been received from the area about damage to roads, water pumps and solar panels, and that there were reports that the Israeli army had conducted searches in some villages and arrested some local citizens.

He stressed that it was essential that UN peacekeeping personnel be able to perform their duties without hindrance.

He renewed his call on the parties to maintain the ceasefire, refrain from any action that would conflict with the 1974 Agreement on the Disengagement of Forces, and respect the authority of the UN peacekeeping force UNDOF.