Lebanon insists that UNIFIL will remain in the south

Beirut (Al-Ittihad)

Yesterday, the Minister of Defense of Lebanon, Maurice Slim, confirmed his country’s commitment to the continuation of the United Nations Interim Force (UNIFIL) operating in southern Lebanon, and to cooperate with the Lebanese army in implementing Resolution 1701.
The Lebanese Minister praised the decision of the 16 countries of the European Union, which participate in the UNIFIL force, to continue to carry out its missions in the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701, despite attacks on the position of the force this in small towns near the border, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of National Defense.
The Minister confirmed “Lebanon’s commitment to the presence of international forces in the south, to cooperate with the Lebanese army in implementing Resolution 1701 in all directions, which Lebanon has repeatedly announced that they are committed to implementing it after the ceasefire, while Israel refuses to respond. the international will by stopping their criminal war on Lebanon.”
He believed that “the decision of the European countries confirms a clear international desire to work to fulfill the role assigned by a resolution of the Security Council which cannot be changed except by the decision of the members- to preserve states. “
UNIFIL forces have not left their positions in southern Lebanon, after the start of Israeli ground operations in southern Lebanon at the beginning of this month, despite Israel’s request that they withdraw from the positions have, and despite several of their positions, especially their headquarters in the Ras Naqoura area, exposed to Israeli bombardment and injuring several of its soldiers.
In this context, the Minister of Defense of Italy Guido Crosetto said yesterday that the UNIFIL mission is essential to end the war in the region, and it must be strengthened, not withdrawn.