According to Lebanon’s Al-Mayadeen news agency, the head of the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and its force commander, Major General Aroldo Lazaro Saenz, reaffirmed UNIFIL’s continued commitment to supporting the Lebanese Army, describing it as “our partner in promoting stability in the south.”
In a statement issued on the occasion of Lebanon’s 82nd anniversary of independence, President Lazarus stressed that the complete redeployment of the Lebanese Army throughout the southern region is “an important milestone in strengthening the state’s authority and extending its sovereignty to all its territories.”
He further emphasized that unwavering respect for Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity remains “central to driving the implementation of resolution 1701 and creating conditions for lasting stability,” noting that the resolution remains the cornerstone of southern Lebanon’s security framework.
Resolution 1701 was adopted in the wake of Israel’s 2006 war in Lebanon. It calls for a complete cessation of hostilities, the deployment of the Lebanese army in southern Lebanon, and the establishment of a demilitarized zone between the Blue Line and the Litani River. “Israel” has violated this resolution since it was enacted in 2006 and continues to do so to this day.
Lazarus added that UNIFIL staff gathered at the mission’s headquarters last week to celebrate Lebanon’s Independence Day and “renewed our support for Lebanon, its stability and sovereignty,” a stance that reflected the mission’s enduring partnership with the Lebanese people and institutions.
MNA