New York, June 1 -- The United Nations must maintain a strategic footprint in Lebanon once the mandate for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) expires at the conclusion of the year, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has told the Security Council.

Emphasising the indispensable role of international observers in maintaining regional stability, the UN chief highlighted that a continued deployment remains critical to preventing further escalation.

"Under all proposed options, a uniformed United Nations presence working to facilitate de-escalation, dialogue, liaison and coordination, and support for the Lebanese Armed Forces would be necessary... towards the overarching objective of a long-term solution to the conflict,"...