Lebanese President Joseph Aoun reaffirmed his country’s commitment to the continued presence of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in the south, warning that its withdrawal would create a security vacuum amid ongoing Israeli aggression and the occupation of several southern villages and towns.
The Lebanese Presidency stated in a statement on Wednesday that Aoun, during his meeting with Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix at Baabda Palace, emphasized the importance of the role UNIFIL has played since the start of its mission and the sacrifices made by its personnel.
He noted that its presence allows for continued international monitoring of the situation in the region, as well as its humanitarian, social, health, and educational roles, which have strengthened its ties with the residents of the south. Aoun expressed hope that the Security Council would respond to Lebanon’s request to retain the UNIFIL mandate for the coming year, for which a withdrawal date had previously been set.
For his part, Lacroix confirmed that the field situation remains complex amid ongoing military activities and their impact on the population, stressing the importance of listening to Lebanon’s position during Security Council discussions on the future of the UN presence in the south. Lacroix clarified that the UN Secretary-General had presented the Security Council with several options regarding the possibility of continuing the UN presence after UNIFIL’s mandate expires.
He pointed out that the position of the Lebanese authorities, including the request to extend UNIFIL’s mandate for a temporary period, should be taken into account, as the issue relates to Lebanon’s security and the restoration of its full sovereignty, as well as the necessity of enhancing security in the region. The European Union had announced last Thursday the support of its member states for extending UNIFIL’s mandate to avoid a security vacuum.
It is worth noting that UNIFIL is a multinational international peacekeeping force under the UN in Lebanon, established on March 19, 1978, pursuant to UN Security Council resolutions 425 and 426, and several other resolutions to support the operations of the Syrian Army and confirm the Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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