UN Daily Press Briefing: Venezuela, Syria, Lebanon/Israel, and Yemen (January 7, 2026)

Venezuela

• 🤝 The Secretary-General met with Venezuela's Permanent Representative, Ambassador Samuel Moncada, reiterating his publicly stated position on US military action.
• 🕊️ He also offered the UN's good offices to support an inclusive national dialogue in Venezuela.
• 🇺🇳 The UN's stance is that the oil in Venezuela belongs to the Venezuelan people, emphasizing permanent sovereignty over natural resources.

Syria

• ⚠️ The Secretary-General is alarmed by reports of civilian deaths and injuries following hostilities in Aleppo.
• ⚖️ The UN reiterates the obligation of all parties under international humanitarian law to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure.
• 🤝 All actors are called upon to de-escalate, exercise maximum restraint, and resume negotiations to implement the March 10th agreement.
• 🗣️ Kurdish officials accused Damascus of a "war of extermination" against Kurdish neighborhoods, with the Syrian army designating them as closed military zones.

Lebanon/Israel

• 🕊️ Under-Secretary-General Jean-Pierre Lacroix continued his visit, meeting Lebanese officials to discuss UNIFIL's support for sustaining the cessation of hostilities.
• 🤝 Discussions also covered the redeployment of Lebanese armed forces in the south and UNIFIL's support for Security Council resolution 1701.
• 💔 Lacroix witnessed extensive destruction in southern Lebanon and urged respect for the 2024 cessation of hostilities agreement.
• 🌍 Special Coordinator Jeanine Hennis-Plaschaert met with Israeli officials regarding the implementation of the November understanding and Security Council resolution 1701.

Yemen

• 🔍 The UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grunberg, is actively engaged in de-escalation efforts and preserving space for dialogue.
• 🇪🇬 Grunberg concluded a visit to Cairo and is now in Riyadh for further meetings focused on reducing tension and supporting a political process.

Other Announcements

• 🎙️ The briefing announced a guest, Gulam Isekai, on the UN's post-UNAMI presence in Iraq.
• 📊 Tomorrow's briefing will launch the World Economic and Situation and Prospects report by the Department of Economic and Social Affairs.
• 🎉 Good news was shared about the birth of a baby to UN colleague Amanda Price.