BEIRUT: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Thursday urged the UK to back Lebanon’s request to the UN Security Council for the renewal of the mandate for the UN Interim Force in Lebanon, the international peacekeeping force in the south of the country.
He stressed the important role it plays in upholding the ceasefire agreement with Israel and efforts to guarantee regional stability.
He reaffirmed Lebanon’s commitment to the continued presence of UNIFIL forces in southern Lebanon and told the British Ambassador to Lebanon, Hamish Cowell, that he “attaches great importance to the UK’s support for his position calling on the Security Council to extend UNIFIL’s mandate, both to ensure the full implementation of Resolution 1701, and to enable the complete deployment of the Lebanese Army along Lebanon’s internationally recognized borders.”
Resolution 1701 was adopted by the Security Council in 2006 with the aim of resolving the conflict that year between Israel and Hezbollah. It calls for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon, the withdrawal of Hezbollah and other forces from southern Lebanon, and the disarmament of Hezbollah and other armed groups.
The Security Council will meet on Monday to discuss the annual extension of UNIFIL’s mandate to assist in the deployment of the Lebanese Army in the south, and work to ensure the withdrawal of Israeli forces.
