UNIFIL Denies Possibility of Moving Units from Lebanon to Syria

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon denied on Wednesday media reports that the mission is mulling to move units and equipment to Syria to help the U.N. observer team there.

“Media reports that UNIFIL is studying the possibility of transferring some units from Lebanon to Syria and mainly tanks are not true,” UNIFIL spokesman Andrea Tenenti told pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat.

“UNIFIL’s mission in Lebanon is based on guaranteeing the respect for the articles of (Security Council) resolution 1701,” he said.

The mission of the peacekeepers also lies in “preserving the security and stability of Lebanon’s south and guaranteeing that the Blue Line on the Lebanese-Israeli border is being respected,” Tenenti added.

His remarks came after UNIFIL Director of Political and Civil Affairs Milos Strugar also denied last week that the U.N. peacekeepers had any role in Syria.

There are currently 24 observers on the ground to monitor a shaky U.N.-backed ceasefire in Syria.

U.N.-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan is to accelerate deployment of the 300 observers authorized by the Security Council.