Lebanon: Lebanese caretaker Foreign Minister Abdullah Bou Habib discussed Friday with General Aroldo Lazaro, Head of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and its Commander-in-Chief, the situation of the UN forces in southern Lebanon in light of the Israeli attacks they are facing and the threats they face that hinder their performance of their duties.

According to Qatar News Agency, Bou Habib stressed, in a meeting with General Lazaro, Lebanon’s adherence to the role of these forces and their work in maintaining peace and security, reiterating his country’s full commitment to UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and its comprehensive and balanced implementation, in a way that restores calm to the southern border and ensures its stability in a sustainable manner.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed what the Lebanese government can do to facilitate UNIFIL’s tasks and help it implement its mandate, as stipulated in the Security Council’s founding resolution.

The UN Security Council deci
ded in 1978 to establish the UNIFIL force to confirm the withdrawal of the Israeli entity from Lebanon, restore international peace and security, and help the Lebanese government regain its effective authority in the region. The mission was modified twice as a result of developments in 1982 and 2000.

In 2006, the Security Council strengthened the force and decided that the mission would monitor, in addition to its other tasks, the cessation of attacks, besides accompanying and supporting the Lebanese forces in the deployment process in southern Lebanon.