© UNIFIL/K. Ardiel A UN peacekeeper on duty in Lebanon. Top news of the day | Tuesday: General Assembly, Ukraine, Lebanon, Yemen UN
The main news of the day in the UN and in the world: The 81st session of the UN General Assembly started at the UN headquarters in New York, the head of the UN expressed hope for the resumption of negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, in In Lebanon, the number of civilian casualties is growing; the UN condemned the Houthi attacks on targets in southern Saudi Arabia.
Opening of the 81st session of the General Assembly
On Tuesday, the 80th session of the General Assembly officially closed and the 81st session of the General Assembly opened at the UN headquarters in New York. Annalena Burbock handed over the Chairman’s gavel to Bangladeshi diplomat Khalilur Rahman and wished him good luck in his upcoming work. Rahman, who will lead the 81st session that started today, spoke of the need to prepare the United Nations for the challenges of the future and promised to facilitate this process.UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed hope that the latest diplomatic efforts, including visits by senior US officials to Moscow and Kyiv, will lead to a resumption of negotiations between Ukraine and Russia and pave the way for a ceasefire as well as lasting peace. The United Nations is ready to support any constructive efforts made in this direction, says a statement issued on behalf of the Secretary General by his press secretary. The UN chief called on the parties to ensure conditions conducive to the continuation of diplomatic efforts.
Escalation in southern Lebanon
The Secretary-General is deeply concerned about the escalation of Israeli military operations in southern Lebanon, particularly in and around Nabatiyeh. There, civilian casualties, including women and children, are rising, and evacuation orders are causing population displacement. The UN chief is particularly concerned about reports of Israeli strikes on hospitals and government buildings. Guterres called on Israel to withdraw its troops from Lebanese territory. The fighting must stop, all parties are obliged to comply with international law, the Secretary General said in a statement.
Houthi attacks
The UN condemned the Houthi attacks on a number of targets in southern Saudi Arabia and expressed concern about the intensification of hostilities on various fronts in Yemen. The UN calls on all parties to exercise restraint, prevent further escalation and comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law, including to refrain from targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure.