Asim Iftikhar says nearly 20 per cent of Lebanon, now lies under illegal Israeli occupation
Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the UN Ambassador Asim Iftikhar speaking at the UN Security Council Emergency Meeting on the recent situation in Lebanon. PHOTO: X
Pakistan on Tuesday expressed grave concern over the deteriorating security and humanitarian situation in Lebanon, warning that ongoing Israeli military operations are causing mass civilian suffering and undermining peace efforts, according to a statement delivered at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on the recent situation in Lebanon.
Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said he was “joining colleagues in also thanking ASC Martha Phobi for a comprehensive, yet deeply alarming briefing”.
He told the Council that despite ceasefire arrangements and direct talks, “the security and humanitarian situation in Lebanon continues to deteriorate drastically, with an expansion of Israeli military operations and ground incursions into Lebanese territory”.
Statement by Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad,
Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the UN,
At the UN Security Council Emergency Meeting on the recent situation in Lebanon
(1 June 2026)
********Thank you, Madam President.
I would like to join colleagues in also thanking ASC… pic.twitter.com/j4Pp3vAvAt
— Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the UN (@PakistanUN_NY) June 2, 2026
He further stated that “two thousand square kilometres, nearly 20 per cent of Lebanon, now lies under illegal Israeli occupation,” adding that “unlawful evacuation orders are further inflicting immense suffering on civilians”.
According to Iftikhar, “it seems it is the same strategy, the same playbook that we have seen elsewhere: indiscriminate killing, forced displacement, and occupation”.
The Ambassador told the Council that since March, “more than 3,400 people, including women and children, have been killed and over 10,000 injured,” while “more than one million are displaced.” He cited UN humanitarian assessments saying civilians face “an appalling escalation of violence, displacement, and human loss”.
He also raised alarm over attacks on aid workers, noting “125 health workers killed and over 300 injured since March, according to the WHO”.
Pakistan further condemned attacks on cultural heritage sites, saying “the Tyre UNESCO World Heritage Site, under enhanced protection, has been struck, along with the capture of Beaufort Castle”.
Read: Truce in tatters as Israeli troops push deeper into Lebanon
Iftikhar said “all these reckless Israeli actions, condemnable as they are, and which violate Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, constitute a flagrant breach of international law,” adding they “seriously undermine diplomatic efforts to achieve lasting peace and stability in Lebanon and the region”.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s diplomatic stance, he said, “Pakistan supports all diplomatic efforts aimed at de-escalation and echoes the Secretary-General’s call on all sides to fully utilize diplomatic channels and recommit to the full implementation of Resolution 1701”.
He stressed that “sustainable peace can only be achieved through dialogue and diplomacy,” while also welcoming “the efforts of the United States in facilitating the ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel”.
Pakistan also praised Lebanon’s internal efforts, noting “the efforts of the Government of Lebanon to restore stability, strengthen state authority, and ensure that the use of force remains the exclusive prerogative of the Lebanese state through its legitimate institutions, with the Lebanese Armed Forces playing a central role”.
However, he warned that “Israeli actions are undermining the efforts of the Lebanese government”.
Concluding Pakistan’s position, Ambassador Iftikhar stated: “We call for full respect for Lebanon’s sovereignty, political independence, unity, and territorial integrity,” along with “immediate cessation of hostilities and strict adherence to the ceasefire arrangements by all sides”.
He further demanded, “full implementation of Resolution 1701, with complete Israeli withdrawal to the Blue Line”.
He added that “a stable and peaceful Lebanon is essential for regional peace and security,” urging the international community to act “with urgency to prevent further escalation and advance a diplomatic solution consistent with international law and the UN Charter”.
Pakistan reaffirmed its solidarity, stating it “stands in solidarity with the people and Government of Lebanon and will continue to support all efforts aimed at promoting peace, stability, and hope in the region”.
Israeli troops seized the historic Beaufort Castle in southern Lebanon and established control over its strategic ridge on Monday, marking a significant escalation in military operations against the country despite an internationally brokered ceasefire that has struggled to hold for more than six weeks.
The escalation follows one of the heaviest days of Hezbollah rocket and drone fire into northern Israel since the April ceasefire, which had briefly reduced the intensity of the conflict but never fully halted hostilities. Israel reported school closures and civilian restrictions after renewed attacks from southern Lebanon.
The wider conflict has already caused severe humanitarian consequences. Lebanese officials estimate more than 3,370 deaths since hostilities intensified in March, while over 1.2 million people have been displaced by Israeli strikes and evacuation orders. On the Israeli side, authorities report 24 soldiers and four civilians killed, alongside tens of thousands of residents displaced from northern communities.
Hezbollah has continued to deploy low-cost explosive drones and rockets targeting Israeli positions, with the Israeli military acknowledging ongoing engagements along the frontier despite ceasefire arrangements.
