Middle East, UNIFIL & other topics – Daily Press Briefing (22 April 2026) | United Nations

Highlights:

– Middle East
– UN Interim Force in Lebanon
– Lebanon/Humanitarian
– Occupied Palestinian Territory
– Yemen
– Libya
– Sudan
– South Sudan
– Haiti
– Mine Action
– International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence
– International Mother Earth Day
– Extreme Heat ANd Agriculture

MIDDLE EAST

The Secretary-General welcomed the announcement by the United States to extend the ceasefire. This is an important step toward de-escalation and an important step toward creating critical space for diplomacy and confidence-building between Iran and the United States.

We encourage all parties to build on this momentum, refrain from actions that could undermine the cease-fire, and engage constructively in negotiations to reach a sustainable and lasting resolution.

The Secretary-General fully supports Pakistan’s efforts in facilitating further talks, and he hopes that these efforts will contribute to creating conditions conducive to a comprehensive and durable resolution to the conflict.

UN INTERIM FORCE IN LEBANON

The UN is deeply saddened to report that one of the two French peacekeepers who have been severely injured in an incident in South Lebanon on 18 April passed away at a hospital in Paris earlier this morning. A specialist dog handler, Corporal Anicet Girardin was 31 years old. He was seriously wounded when his explosive ordnance disposal team, operating under UNIFIL’s French contingent, came under attack while clearing a road in Ghanduriyah in order to re‑establish access to isolated UNIFIL positions. He succumbed to his wounds days after the death of Staff Sergeant named Florian Montorio in the same incident.

And as you will recall, at the time, the UN initial assessment was that the peacekeepers came under fire from non-state armed groups, presumably, Hezbollah, during this incident.

The UN extends its most sincere condolences to his family, to his friends and colleagues, and to the people and Government of France. Corporal First Class Girardin was the fifth UNIFIL peacekeeper to lose his life due to the current hostilities while carrying out his duties and fulling a mandate given to them by the Security Council.

If you will recall, a third peacekeeper, who was also seriously injured during that incident, he was also repatriated to Paris yesterday and remains under medical care. A fourth peacekeeper, who sustained minor injuries, has now returned to his post with his unit in southern Lebanon.

Attacks on peacekeepers are unacceptable and must be promptly investigated, so that those responsible can be effectively be prosecuted and held accountable. In this regard, the Secretary-General welcomes the stated commitment of the Lebanese authorities with respect to this incident.