STORY
The European Union has urged Israel and Lebanon to use the latest ceasefire agreement as an opportunity to end the conflict and achieve lasting peace and security. The statement was issued by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on 6 June, following the agreement brokered by the United States.
The EU said all military action should cease immediately, called for Hezbollah to withdraw from the South Litani Sector and urged Israel to withdraw from Lebanese territory. Brussels also said it was ready to support implementation of an agreement between the two countries and repeated its backing for Lebanon’s Government.
The statement also linked the diplomatic process to the EU’s wider support for the Lebanese Armed Forces, after the Council adopted a €100 million European Peace Facility assistance measure on 4 June. The EU said the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 remained essential and condemned attacks on UNIFIL personnel, including the killing of another peacekeeper on 4 June.