On the forty-sixth anniversary of its presence in southern Lebanon, UNIFIL’s leadership reiterated its call to all parties to lay down their arms, recommit to UN Security Council Resolution 1701, and work towards a political and diplomatic solution.
"The implementation of Resolution 1701 has faced many challenges due to ongoing events, but it remains as important and necessary as ever. We urge all parties to fully implement it,” affirmed UNIFIL's head of Mission and Force Commander Gen. Aroldo Lázaro.
Lázaro saluted the civilian and military peacekeepers who have served with the mission over the years, including over 330 individuals who have lost their lives and whose “sacrifices have not been in vain.”
“Despite continuous daily exchanges of gunfire, the 10,000 peacekeeping troops from 49 countries have maintained their mission in monitoring the rapidly evolving situation in southern Lebanon, maintaining high operational visibility, and continuing to assist local communities,” Lázaro said, adding, “We stand in support of reaching a peaceful resolution to the current crisis."
The UN Security Council established the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) under resolutions 425 and 426 of March 19, 1978, following an Israeli incursion in southern Lebanon, which was then used by the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) guerrillas as a platform to launch attacks against Israel. The mission's mandate was later expanded under Resolution 1701 following the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah.
"The implementation of Resolution 1701 has faced many challenges due to ongoing events, but it remains as important and necessary as ever. We urge all parties to fully implement it,” affirmed UNIFIL's head of Mission and Force Commander Gen. Aroldo Lázaro.
Lázaro saluted the civilian and military peacekeepers who have served with the mission over the years, including over 330 individuals who have lost their lives and whose “sacrifices have not been in vain.”
“Despite continuous daily exchanges of gunfire, the 10,000 peacekeeping troops from 49 countries have maintained their mission in monitoring the rapidly evolving situation in southern Lebanon, maintaining high operational visibility, and continuing to assist local communities,” Lázaro said, adding, “We stand in support of reaching a peaceful resolution to the current crisis."
The UN Security Council established the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) under resolutions 425 and 426 of March 19, 1978, following an Israeli incursion in southern Lebanon, which was then used by the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) guerrillas as a platform to launch attacks against Israel. The mission's mandate was later expanded under Resolution 1701 following the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah.
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