Against Israel-US, Lebanon Rejects The Withdrawal Of UN Peace Forces UNIFIL From Its Country

JAKARTA - Lebanese President Joseph Aoun called for the mandate of the temporary UN peacekeeping force or UNIFIL to not be ended. This was conveyed after the UN Security Council began discussing the extension of the UNIFIL mission in southern Lebanon.

The discussion comes after the Lebanese government under pressure from the United States (US) committed to arming Hezbollah by the end of 2025.

Israel and the US, which have veto rights at the UN Security Council, reportedly oppose the extension of UNIFIL forces' mission to protect Lebanon.

"Any UNIFIL mandate schedule that differs from actual needs will have a negative impact on the situation in the southern region, which is still suffering from Israeli occupation," Aoun told UNIFIL troop commander Diodato Abagnara, according to a Lebanese presidency statement, quoted by AFP.

The deployment of UNIFIL troops in Lebanon has been carried out since 1978 with a mission to separate Israel's military reach in the border area from Lebanon. About 10,000 UNIFIL personnel from about 50 countries were deployed to Lebanon to maintain peace in Lebanon.

The PPB Security Council on Monday this week began discussing a new agreement on the extension or termination of the UNIFIL mission in Lebanon with the aim of withdrawing troops.

Aoun said the Lebanese government had established communication with UN Security Council member countries, as well as friendly countries to ensure the extension of the UNIFIL mandate in its country.