Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati reiterated to UNIFIL commander, Gen. Aroldo Lázaro, Lebanon’s commitment to the mission of the peacekeeping force at a time when its task is being challenged by cross-border confrontations between Israel and Hezbollah.
Following a meeting on Tuesday with a UNIFIL delegation led by Lázaro, Mikati underscored “Lebanon’s commitment to the continued presence of the force in the south,” rejecting any interference with “its tasks and rules of operation, which are carried out in close cooperation with the Lebanese Army.”
He praised the strenuous efforts made by UNIFIL “in this challenging phase” to alleviate tension and prevent “Israel’s military escalation along the Blue Line, in violation of the provisions of Resolution 1701.”
For his part, Lázaro said the meeting comes ahead of the Security Council’s consultations on resolution 1701.
“I expressed my deep concern about the situation in the south and the potential for wider and more intensive hostilities. UNIFIL’s priorities right now are to prevent escalation, safeguard civilian lives, and ensure the safety and security of peacekeepers who are trying to accomplish this,” Lázaro said in a press release.
He cautioned that Resolution 1701 is being challenged at the moment and that the peacekeepers have had to adapt to the situation, assuring, however, that UNIFIL’s work in support of the resolution continues.
“Its (the resolution’s) principles of security, stability, and a long-term solution remain valid. Our impartial role in conveying crucial messages to reduce tensions and prevent dangerous misunderstandings remains critical, aiming to avert any unwarranted escalation,” Lázaro added.
Later on Tuesday, Lázaro held a similar meeting with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, covering the situation in the south in light of alarming escalations.
UNIFIL has been deployed in south Lebanon since 1978, following an Israeli incursion, with the mission of maintaining peace on the border between Lebanon and Israel. Its mission was further enlarged under Resolution 1701 in the aftermath of the 34-day war between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006.
