UNSC welcomes Lebanon deal

The UN Security Council hah welcomed the breakthrough deal reached by Lebanon's rival factions to end an 18-month political standoff and elect a new president.  It "welcomes and strongly supports the agreement reached by Lebanese leaders in Doha on May 21 ..., which constitutes an essential step towards the resolution of the current crisis... and the complete restoration of Lebanon's unity, stability and independence." In a non-binding statement adopted by all its 15 members, the council also "welcomes the agreement to ban the use of weapons and violence as a means to settle disputes, irrespective of their nature and under any circumstances." It hailed the agreement by Lebanon's Western-backed majority and the Hezbollah-led opposition backed by Syria and Iran to elect a new president, establish a national unity cabinet and to address Lebanon's electoral law.

The council reaffirmed "its strong support for the territorial integrity, sovereignty, unity, and political independence of Lebanon within its internationally recognized borders and under the sole and exclusive authority of the government of Lebanon over all Lebanese territory."