US Wants UN Resolution To Be Implemented To Reach Ceasefire, Forces Hezbollah To Resign From South Lebanon

Impact of Israeli attacks in Lebanon/DOK UNICEF

JAKARTA - The United States wants stronger enforcement on UN resolutions that ended Israel's Hezbollah war in 2006, not just reaffirming commitments.

This was conveyed by US Mission Amos Hochstein on his way to Beirut, Monday, October 21.

"Only committed to resolutions of 1701 UN Security Councils is not enough," he said in a televised press conference after meeting Nabih Berri, chairman of Lebanese parliament and leader of the Shia Amal party allied to Hezbollah.

"Resolution 1701 succeeded in ending the war in 2006, but we have to be honest that no one has done anything to implement it, it must be changed," Hochstein added.

The resolution calls for a permanent ceasefire in Lebanon and stipulates Hezbollah must retreat to the north of the Litani River in southern Lebanon, and only the Lebanese military may hold a position in the region between Litani and Israel.

The US envoy said resolution 1701 continues to be a framework that must be followed for a ceasefire in the current Hezbollah-Israel war, but these provisions need to be made so that there is confidence that the resolution will be implemented.

Lebanese interim Prime Minister Najib Mikati has several times reaffirmed her government's commitment to carrying out the resolution by sending more troops from the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) to southern Lebanon.

US efforts are now focused on utilizing Israeli military pressure in Lebanon to enforce the real implementation of UN resolution 1701 and the return of LAF forces authorized in southern Lebanon, a senior US official told CNN.