Security Council Extends UNIFIL Mandate

The U.N. Security Council on Tuesday voted unanimously to extend the mandate of the U.N. peacekeeping force in Lebanon and strongly condemned attempts to threaten the country’s security and stability.

In extending the mission’s mandate until August 31 2015, the Council commended the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon for helping to establish a “new strategic environment in southern Lebanon” and called for further cooperation between the force and the Lebanese army.

UNIFIL was established in 1978 to monitor the border between Lebanon and Israel.

Its mission was extended and enlarged to include supporting Lebanese troops after the 2006 war between the Jewish state and Hizbullah.

The 15-member Council strongly called on all parties concerned to respect the cessation of hostilities, and to prevent any violation of the Blue Line and to respect it in its entirety.

It also urged them to cooperate fully with the U.N. and the peacekeeping force.

In a letter sent to the Council last month, U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon noted that UNIFIL continues to play “a crucial role” in ensuring peace and stability in southern Lebanon, as well as full respect for the Blue Line by both Lebanon and Israel.

Recent incidents of rockets fired from southern Lebanon towards Israel and of retaliation by the Israeli army across the Blue Line “are cause for concern,” he added.

G.K.

H.K.