Mikati to UNIFIL head: Signs show 'Israel' against ceasefire efforts
4 Min Read
The Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister discusses the escalating aggression on Lebanon and the recent attacks on UNIFIL forces in the South, during a meeting with UNIFIL Force Commander Aroldo Lazaro.
-
Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, speaks at the government palace, in Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, March 27, 2023. (AP)
Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati met with Major General Aroldo Lazaro, the UNIFIL Force Commander, and his delegation, to discuss the ongoing Israeli aggression on Lebanon and the challenges UNIFIL is facing at the southern border, amid "Israel's" deliberate attacks.
Mikati conveyed Lebanon's gratitude for UNIFIL's "tireless efforts" during these difficult times, highlighting the significance of the force's role and its ongoing presence in the South. He stressed the importance of maintaining the tasks and operational protocols assigned to UNIFIL, which are carried out in close collaboration with the Lebanese Army.
He also denounced "Israel's" recurrent and deliberate attacks targeting the organization's forces along the border, while simultaneously praising "the determination of many friendly nations to support the continuation of UNIFIL’s work in South Lebanon."
"The expansion of Israeli aggression into Lebanese territories, along with repeated threats to evacuate entire cities and villages and renewed airstrikes targeting the Southern Suburb of Beirut, are indicators that the Israeli enemy rejects all efforts to cease fire and fully implement Resolution 1701," Mikati further stated.
The prime minister reiterated Lebanon's steadfast commitment to the UN resolution and its provisions, stressing that Israeli statements and the diplomatic signals received by Lebanon demonstrate the enemy's refusal to consider proposed solutions and its insistence on violence and devastation. This situation compels the entire international community to confront its historical and moral responsibilities to put an end to this aggression, he noted.
Mikati's office denies US asked Lebanon to declare unilateral ceasefire with 'Israel'
In a related context, the office of Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati on Friday denied that the US had asked Lebanon to declare a unilateral ceasefire after two sources told Reuters that a US envoy had made the request to inject momentum into stalled talks on a ceasefire deal.
In a statement to Reuters, Mikati's office said the government's stance is clear on seeking a ceasefire from both sides and the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 July War on Lebanon..
'Israel's' crimes are boundless
It is worth noting that the death toll from the ongoing Israeli aggression against Lebanon has risen to 2,867 martyrs, with 13,047 individuals reported injured, as confirmed by the Lebanese Ministry of Health's Operations Center for Public Health on Thursday.
The Israeli aggression has not only targeted innocent civilians but also protected groups such as journalists and medical workers. On Thursday, four consecutive deliberate attacks against ambulances and gathering points for medical personnel resulted in the martyrdom of six medics and the injury of more.
Moreover, the occupation has been intentionally targeting UNIFIL forces on the border. A confidential report has surfaced detailing a dozen recent incidents in which Israeli occupation forces (IOF) attacked international troops in Lebanon, forcing their way into a clearly marked UN base, in addition to suspicions of using the incendiary chemical white phosphorus close enough to injure 15 peacekeepers.
The paper, created by a contributing nation and seen by the Financial Times, highlights how IOF have repeatedly attacked UNIFIL, the UN-mandated force positioned along the de facto border. They have destroyed multiple installations and injured troops stationed at border stations in South Lebanon, something UNIFIL has called "flagrant violations of international law."
Read more: Israeli enmity toward Lebanon unrelated to Gaza: Lebanese Minister
