Lebanon Submits Official Request to Extend UNIFIL’s Term

Lebanon has submitted an official request to the United Nations chief to extend the term of the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon, reported al-Mustaqbal daily on Sunday.

The request was made in accordance to U.N. Security Council resolution 1701 and without making alterations to UNIFIL’s mission.

Its term ends on August 31.

The request, made to U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, calls for extending the term by one year.

Diplomatic sources revealed to the daily that international contacts had been taking place away from the spotlight in order to extend the mandate of the peacekeeping force.

There is currently consensus on the extension and it should not face any obstacles, they added.

On whether the memo sent to the U.N. asks for the deployment of the international force along the Lebanese-Syrian border, the sources explained that despite Lebanon’s demands for it, no official government request was made and therefore no U.N. resolution over the matter will be issued.

UNIFIL was created by U.N. Security Council resolutions 425 and 426 of March 19, 1978, to confirm Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon, restore international peace and security and assist the Lebanese government in restoring its effective authority in the area.

Following the July 2006 conflict, the Security Council, by its resolution 1701, significantly enhanced UNIFIL’s mandate and capacity and assigned it additional tasks working closely with the Lebanese Armed Forces in southern Lebanon.

Today, UNIFIL comprises almost 12,000 troops from 38 countries and it is supported by over 1,000 civilian national and international staff. This includes about 800 naval personnel of the UNIFIL Maritime Task Force deployed along the Lebanese coast.

The March 14 alliance has since the eruption of the revolt in Syria demanded the deployment of the peacekeeping force along the Lebanese-Syrian border to tackle the flow of extremists to and from Syria.

M.T.