UN extends mandate of peacekeeping force in Lebanon

The UN Security Council yesterday unanimously extended the mandate of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) for another year.

UNIFIL’s dictate was due to expire today, however under Resolution 2433, which was adopted yesterday, this has been extended to 31 August 2019.

The UNSC applauded UNIFIL, “whose deployment together with the Lebanese Armed Forces has helped to establish a new strategic environment in southern Lebanon.”

UNIFIL has been operating in southern Lebanon for the past 40 years. First set up in 1978 to monitor a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, UNIFIL has grown in size and responsibilities, with now around 10,500 peacekeepers coming from 41 troop contributing countries.

Read: Why it is important to renew UNIFIL’s yearly mandate

Last week, Israeli army Chief of Staff, Lt. General Gadi Eisenkot asked the UNIFIL Commander, General Stefano Del Col, to “control and restrain” Hezbollah’s activities in southern Lebanon.

While Lebanese President Michel Aoun had called for the extension of UNIFIL’s mandate in response to Israel’s persistent threats to Lebanon and the unstable conditions in the region.