Asim Iftikhar says nearly 20 percent of Lebanon is now under illegal Israeli occupation
Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar, speaking at the emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on the recent situation in Lebanon. PHOTO:
Pakistan on Tuesday expressed deep concern over the deteriorating security and humanitarian situation in Lebanon, warning that ongoing Israeli military operations are causing massive 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 “joins his colleagues in also thanking ASC Martha Phobi for her comprehensive, but deeply alarming, briefing.”
He told the Council that despite ceasefire agreements and direct talks, “the security and humanitarian situation in Lebanon continues to deteriorate significantly, 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 emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on the recent situation in Lebanon
(June 1, 2026)
********Thank you, Madam President.
I would like to join my 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 kilometers, or nearly 20 percent of Lebanon, are now under illegal Israeli occupation,” adding that “illegal evacuation orders are inflicting further immense suffering on civilians.”
According to Iftikhar, “it seems to be the same strategy, the same strategy that we have seen elsewhere: indiscriminate killings, 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 more than 10,000 injured,” while “more than a million are displaced.” He cited UN humanitarian assessments that civilians face “a terrible escalation of violence, displacement and loss of life.”
He also alarmed attacks on aid workers, noting “125 health workers killed and more than 300 injured since March, according to the WHO.”
Pakistan further condemned attacks on cultural heritage sites, saying “the UNESCO World Heritage site of Tire, under enhanced protection, was struck, along with the capture of Beaufort Castle.”
Read: Truce in tatters as Israeli troops push deeper into Lebanon
Iftikhar said that “all these reckless Israeli actions, however reprehensible they may be, and which violate the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon, constitute a blatant violation of international law,” adding that they “seriously undermine diplomatic efforts aimed at achieving 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 to all parties to make full use of diplomatic channels and reaffirm their commitment to fully implement Resolution 1701.”
He stressed that “lasting peace can only be achieved through dialogue and diplomacy”, while welcoming “the efforts of the United States to facilitate the ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel”.
Pakistan also welcomed Lebanon’s internal efforts, noting “the efforts of the Lebanese government 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.”
He warned, however, that “Israeli actions undermine the efforts of the Lebanese government.”
Concluding Pakistan’s position, Ambassador Iftikhar said: “We call for full respect for the sovereignty, political independence, unity and territorial integrity of Lebanon,” as well as “the immediate cessation of hostilities and strict compliance with the ceasefire agreements by all parties.”
He further demanded “the full implementation of Resolution 1701, with a complete Israeli withdrawal from the Blue Line.”
He added that “a stable and peaceful Lebanon is essential for regional peace and security,” urging the international community to act “urgently to prevent further escalation and promote a diplomatic solution consistent with international law and the United Nations Charter.”
Pakistan reaffirmed its solidarity, saying it “stands 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 historic Beaufort Castle in southern Lebanon and took control of its strategic ridge on Monday, marking a significant escalation of military operations against the country despite an internationally negotiated ceasefire that has struggled to hold for more than six weeks.
The escalation follows one of the most intense days of Hezbollah rocket and drone fire on northern Israel since the April ceasefire, which briefly reduced the intensity of the conflict but never completely stopped hostilities. Israel reported school closures and civilian restrictions after new attacks from southern Lebanon.
The conflict as a whole has already had serious humanitarian consequences. Lebanese authorities estimate the death toll at more than 3,370 since hostilities intensified in March, while more than 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 continued to deploy explosive drones and low-cost rockets targeting Israeli positions, with the Israeli military acknowledging ongoing engagements along the border despite ceasefire agreements.
