The Lebanese president, Joseph Aoun, emphasized this Monday that the priority of his Government is to maintain and prolong the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in the south of the country, against alternative proposals such as the creation of a new peacekeeping force backed by the international community, considering that the current UN mission remains a pillar of "stability".
"Our first option is to extend the mandate of UNIFIL. If not, the alternative consists of adopting a framework that guarantees the continuity of the presence of international forces in the south, within the required legal parameters, operating alongside the Army and in coordination with it to support stability and the execution of assigned tasks," he expressed on social media.
Aoun has stressed that the presence of UNIFIL is essential for the country, as it "helps to root the population in their towns and localities" and contributes to "stability through cooperation and coordination with the Lebanese Army".
At the same time, the head of state has reproached Israel for "opposing the presence of the forces" of UNIFIL in southern Lebanon and for exerting "almost a year of pressure" in the context of the talks between the parties mediated by the United States.
"The fundamental objective is to achieve progress that guarantees a sustained international presence in the south, whether through the extension of UNIFIL's mandate or the deployment of complementary international forces, thus preserving stability and reinforcing the role of the State and the Lebanese Army," he concluded.
These statements are framed within a meeting held at the Baabda Palace with a parliamentary delegation that delivered to the president a letter signed by 86 deputies addressed to the UN Security Council, in which they formally demand the renewal of UNIFIL's mandate.
The delegation also met with the Prime Minister, Nawaf Salam, who reaffirmed that Lebanon's official position continues to be "the need for the presence of a UN force" in the south, capable of performing functions of "observation, information, coordination, and communication".
"I personally informed the Secretary-General of the UN during his visit to Beirut and in subsequent communications, of Lebanon's clear position on this matter," he has indicated on social media, also expressing his recognition to the parliamentarians for the initiative.
The UNIFIL, created in 1978, maintains a limited deployment along the so-called 'Blue Line', a strip of 120 kilometers that separates the southern border of Lebanon from the northern border of Israel. In this area, it monitors the ceasefire between the Israeli Armed Forces and Hezbollah, without the capacity to use force beyond what is established in its mandate.
The activities of the mission are governed by UN Security Council resolution 1701, unanimously approved in 2006 following the serious escalation between Israel and the Shiite militia. The withdrawal of UNIFIL troops is currently set for 2027.