UN extends mandate for Lebanon peacekeeping force amid Israeli threats
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The resolution, which passed unanimously, extends the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) until August 31, 2025.
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UNIFIL forces are on standby on the Lebanese side of the border, June 9, 2023. (AFP)
The UN Security Council voted to extend the mandate of the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon for another year, urging a "de-escalation" of tensions on the border between Lebanon and northern occupied Palestine amid confrontations between the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon - Hezbollah and "Israel" since October 8, 2023.
The resolution, which passed unanimously, extends the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) until August 31, 2025.
Operational since 1978, UNIFIL is charged with maintaining a "buffer zone" between the Israeli occupation forces in northern occupied Palestine and Lebanon.
The force was significantly expanded in 2006 after the 34-day war between the Lebanese Resistance and "Israel", with the responsibility of overseeing the ceasefire between the two sides.
It currently consists of over 10,000 personnel deployed in Lebanon.
The Security Council resolution said the body "strongly urges that all relevant actors implement immediate measures towards de-escalation, including with a view to restoring calm, restraint and stability across the Blue Line," referring to the boundary established by the UN in 2000, following the withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces from southern Lebanon.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, in a letter to the council at the end of July, had supported Beirut's request to extend UNIFIL's mandate.
Although the mandate itself remains unchanged, the resolution "encourages the Secretary-General to ensure that UNIFIL remains ready to adapt its activities to support de-escalation, within its mandate and its rules of engagement."
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati described the extension of the peacekeeping force's mandate as "necessary" for maintaining "stability in south Lebanon." He emphasized "Lebanon's commitment to work closely with UNIFIL to face the challenges and threats to stability in the south", a statement from his office said.
Meanwhile, the Israeli occupation's Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, criticized what he labeled as the "failure" of UNIFIL.
He questioned the effectiveness of the mandate, asking, "What good does this mandate do when it fails so miserably to meet any of its objectives?"
Danon further claimed that the renewal of UNIFIL's mandate did not address "core problems", and accused the Security Council of "turning a blind eye to Hezbollah's massive military build-up."
A flashback
Last year, the Security Council extended UNIFIL's mandate for another year, following a contentious debate over the troops' freedom of movement.
The renewed mandate closely mirrored the 2022 agreement, particularly regarding the freedom of movement for the approximately 10,000 troops stationed in Lebanon, a point of contention with the Lebanese government.
The mandate text urged "all parties... to ensure that the freedom of movement of UNIFIL in all its operations and UNIFIL's access to the Blue Line in all its parts is fully respected and unimpeded."
The mandate further stated that "UNIFIL does not require prior authorization or permission to undertake its mandated tasks and... UNIFIL is authorized to conduct its operation independently, while continuing to coordinate with the Government of Lebanon."
At the time, Hezbollah Secreatary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah had voiced opposition to the renewal of the 2022 UNIFIL terms, questioning the sovereignty of allowing a foreign armed force to operate in Lebanon without the government's or the Lebanese army's authorization and coordination.
He also pointed out that some sides want to turn UNIFIL into spies for the Israeli occupation.
In a letter to the United Nations, the Lebanese government also expressed a preference for returning to the 2021 mandate terms, which placed less emphasis on UNIFIL's independent movement.
Lebanon's UN representative, Jeanne Mrad, acknowledged that the updated mandate did not fully address Lebanon's concerns.
Why it matters
Since the launch of the war on Gaza in October, Hezbollah directly announced joining the battle in support of Gaza and commenced operations targeting Israeli military positions and northern settlements, conditioning the end of attacks to the cease of the aggression on the Strip.
Meanwhile, "Israel" has been conducting daily attacks on Lebanon, resulting in the killings of hundreds of civilians, including women and children.
An Israeli strike targeted a residential building in the Southern Suburb of Beirut on July 30, destroying a substantial section of the structure and assassinating Hezbollah's Commander Martyr Fouad Shokor among several citizens.
Hezbollah confirmed on Sunday that it launched an "initial response" to the assassination of Martyr Shokor by launching a large number of drones deep into the occupied Palestinian territories.
On Monday, the top US general stated that the risk of a regional war in the Middle East has been reduced after Hezbollah responded to the Israeli assassination of Shokor, pointing out that the Iranian response to the assassination of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh, however, has transcended into the key determiner of whether the scope of the war would expand.
Read next: We targeted the depth of the occupied territories: Sayyed Nasrallah
