New York, March 4 (QNA) - UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed grave concern over the Israeli military's statement calling for the evacuation of residents of southern Lebanon to the north of the Litani River.

Guterres' spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, noted at a press conference that Israel continues to issue forced displacement orders, including one issued on Wednesday, affecting the entire area south of the Litani River, which covers approximately 850 square kilometers and is home to hundreds of thousands of people.

The UN spokesperson welcomed the Lebanese government's decision earlier this week to accelerate efforts to consolidate the state's monopoly on weapons throughout the country, stressing the need for Hezbollah to respect the government's decision, as well as Security Council Resolution 1701.

He also renewed the call for Israel to respect Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the relevant Security Council resolutions. (QNA)