United States, Lebanon & other topics - Daily Press Briefing (8 January 2026) | United Nations

Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

Highlights:
US/UN Entities
Lebanon
Security Council/Syria
Syria/Humanitarian
Peacekeeping/Middle East
Occupied Palestinian Territory
Yemen
South Sudan
Ukraine

US/UN ENTITIES

The Secretary-General regrets the announcement by the White House regarding the United States’ decision to withdraw from a number of United Nations entities.

As we have consistently said and underscored, assessed contributions to the United Nations regular budget and the peacekeeping budget, as approved by the General Assembly, are a legal obligation under the UN Charter for all Member States, including the United States.

All United Nations entities will go on with the implementation of their mandates as given to us by Member States. 

The United Nations has a responsibility to deliver for all those who depend on us, and we will continue to carry out our mandates with determination.

LEBANON

On the announcement by the Lebanese Armed Forces that they have assumed operational control of the area south of the Litani River, the Spokesman for Secretary-General said that the UN very much welcome this progress.

The UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plascheart, remains in contact with all parties to encourage further progress in the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701, as well as the cessation of hostilities agreement.

While more work lies ahead as the Lebanese Armed Forces moves to other phases of the government-approved plan to establish exclusive state control over arms, today’s milestone showcases the commitment of the Lebanese army, the Lebanese authorities and underscores the role of the Mechanism established in November 2024 cessation of hostilities agreement.

As an example of the work that UN peacekeepers have been doing since the cessation of hostilities agreement came into play on November 2024, the Spokesman said that UN peacekeepers have discovered 405 weapons caches in their area of operations. As per their mandate, these discoveries were reported to the Lebanese Army. During the same period of time, the United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon (UNIFIL) has been conducting thousands of operational activities, including various kinds of foot patrols and vehicle patrols, as well as many checkpoints, escorts, and other work.

SECURITY COUNCIL/SYRIA

This morning, Security Council members held a briefing on the implementation of Security Council resolution 2118 concerning the elimination of the chemical weapons programme in the Syrian Arab Republic. Deputy to the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs,Adedeji Ebo, briefed Council members. He reported continued engagement between the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and the Syrian authorities, and confirmed the need for sustained international support, and the importance of ensuring safe access to sites located in insecure areas.

Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-01-08