Statement by Latvia at the United Nations Security Council at the Emergency Meeting on Lebanon
New York, 11 March 2026
Mr President,
Allow me to begin by thanking the United States as the President of this Council for convening this meeting on such a short notice. And Latvia also joined the call for this meeting to take place.
I thank USG DiCarlo, USG Lacroix and USG Fletcher for their briefings. I also thank Ms Lynn Harfouch for her insights.
The current escalation in Lebanon has serious consequences for the civilian populations and for the security of UN peacekeepers, as well as the stability of the region and global security.
And we commend the exceptional service of UNIFIL as it continues to carry out its mandate under resolution 1701, monitoring this conflict even in the direst circumstances. All essential personnel, including those from my country, are still remaining in place in the midst of hostilities.
Mr President,
Hezbollah has chosen to attack Israel in support of Iran and has dragged the people of Lebanon into a conflict they have no part in. And it brings more suffering to the civilian population, and endangers the fragile progress of the Lebanese government attempting to assert state control over its territory. Hezbollah’s escalation is part of the pattern, as Iran consistently uses proxy networks to destabilize the Middle East, attacks countries in the region and enables aggression in Europe. It must stop now.
Hezbollah must immediately disarm and stop all actions against Israel. We commend the Lebanese Government’s decision of 2 March to declare all Hezbollah military and security activities illegal in the whole territory of Lebanon.
As Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has warned of a “looming humanitarian crisis”, and we heard also from our briefers, with more than 700 000 persons forcibly displaced and more than 870 000 people lacking basic supplies, we strongly reiterate the vital need for all sides to respect international humanitarian law. With over 500 people killed, we call on all parties to ensure adherence to the principles of proportionality and distinction of civilian objects. While we recognise Israel’s right to self‑defence, our concern lies with the human cost that is already piling high with Israel’s operations against Hezbollah, including in densely populated areas. We urge the cessation of all hostilities and return to the ceasefire. We call for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Lebanon to be respected, as reflected in resolution 1701 and the UN Charter.
The safety and security of UN personnel and property must be respected by all sides and at all times. We call upon all members of this Council to continue stressing the crucial importance of upholding commitments agreed in Security Council resolutions 2518 and 2730. Latvia, as a UNIFIL troop contributing country, is especially distressed by the fact that amidst heavy firing three UNIFIL peacekeepers from Ghana were injured inside their base in south Lebanon. Our thoughts are with the injured, and we wish them a speedy recovery.
The current escalation only reiterates the need for a long-term solution of the conflict. And it is essential that the withdrawal of UNIFIL does not result in a security vacuum. We welcome the political commitment of the Lebanese Government to extend its authority throughout the country and the implementation of the disarmament plan. The continued international support in these efforts remains essential. We continue to stand by Lebanon and its people. We look forward to the UN Secretary-General’s report due in June and Council’s continued work on solutions for providing security support to Lebanon.
Mr President,
We commend all mediation efforts by parties. It is important that the Security Council supports these processes in any way possible. We cannot allow the progress that Lebanon has achieved over the past 20 years to vanish.
I thank you.