Lebanese President Joseph Aoun emphasized that extending the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) represents the primary choice for his country, underscoring the necessity of a continued international presence in southern Lebanon in coordination with the Lebanese Army to support stability.
اضافة اعلان
Aoun stated that UNIFIL’s presence in the south is vital for securing residents in their villages and towns and enhancing stability alongside the army, welcoming parliamentary initiatives and petitions calling for the extension of the international force's mandate.
He added that a failure to extend UNIFIL's mandate would require adopting a formula that ensures the ongoing presence of international forces in the south within a legal framework, guaranteeing their operation alongside and in coordination with the Lebanese Army to carry out their assigned tasks.
Aoun pointed out that Israel opposes UNIFIL's presence and has been exerting pressure in this direction for nearly a year, whereas Beirut demands its stay. He stressed that the goal remains ensuring a sustained international presence in the south, whether through extending the current force or adopting an alternative international deployment.
