Lebanese President Stresses Need for UNIFIL's Presence

(MENAFN) Lebanese President Joseph Aoun emphasized the crucial need for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) to remain stationed in the country’s south, citing escalating regional and domestic instability, according to a statement from his office on Monday.

"Now more than ever, the circumstances in Lebanon and the region require UNIFIL to stay," Aoun remarked during his meeting with Major General Diodato Abagnara, the newly appointed Head of Mission and Force Commander of UNIFIL.

Aoun highlighted that the collaboration between UNIFIL and the Lebanese Army is pivotal in maintaining security along Lebanon’s volatile southern border with Israel.

His remarks come at a time when discussions about the mission’s scope are ongoing, with its mandate needing annual approval from the UN Security Council. The most recent extension came in 2024, when the council adopted Resolution 2749, extending UNIFIL's mandate until August 31, 2025.

Earlier this year, Israeli outlets reported that the United States was considering withdrawing its support for UNIFIL as part of an effort to cut costs. However, a U.S. State Department spokesperson later rejected these reports as "inaccurate" in comments made to media, without offering further details.

Abagnara, who has previously held senior roles within UNIFIL, reaffirmed his commitment to enhancing coordination with the Lebanese Armed Forces.

In a separate update on Monday, UNIFIL announced that its western sector has conducted over 5,700 support operations for the Lebanese military since the outbreak of cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel in October 2023.

UNIFIL, established in 1978, has seen its mandate revised multiple times, particularly after the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon and the 2006 conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.

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