United Nations chief Antonio Guterres said Saturday a "more hopeful" future awaits Lebanon after meeting its new leaders in a two-day visit ahead of a deadline for implementing a fragile Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire.

Lebanon's new president Joseph Aoun, speaking to visiting United Nations chief Antonio Guterres, added that Israel's ongoing military actions in the south of the country 'completely contradicts what was stated in the ceasefire agreement.

Naim Qassem, the Hezbollah leader, called 'on the Lebanese state to be firm in confronting violations, now numbering more than hundreds'

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun met with visiting UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday, during which he urged Israeli forces to withdraw from southern Lebanon within the deadline set by the Hezbollah-Israel ceasefire deal.

BEIRUT, 18th January, 2025 (WAM) -- United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged Israel to entirely withdraw from Lebanese territory by the deadline of January 27.

Israel's Cabinet has approved the Gaza ceasefire deal that would pause the fighting and release dozens of hostages held by militants, along with Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. The approval came early on Saturday after a marathon session by the full Cabinet.

Lebanon's new president Joseph Aoun stressed to United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday the urgency of an Israeli military withdrawal as stipulated by a ceasefire deal that ended the Israel-Hezbollah war in November.

UN chief Antonio Guterres said on Friday that Israel's military operations and "occupation" in south Lebanon must cease, nearly two months after the truce that ended the war with Hezbollah.

Gaza airstrikes continue as family killed hours ahead of truce deal - The ceasefire deal will now be discussed by Netanyahu’s wider cabinet ahead of Sunday’s hostage release

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, during a visit with UNIFIL peacekeeping forces in Naqoura in southern Lebanon, told UN staff that the IDF's "continued occupation of the UNIFIL area of ​​operations,

During his visit to Lebanon, he met with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun as well as Lebanese Prime Minister-Designate Nawaf Salam, after which he wrote on X that "the road ahead for Lebanon is filled with promise but also great tests... As the Lebanese people travel this road together, the UN is proud to stand with them." (ANI/WAM)