UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti on Thursday denied rumors about an alleged agreement to end the peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon.
In an interview with Al-Jadeed TV, Tenenti said, “There is no agreement between the United States and Israel to end UNIFIL’s mission in southern Lebanon – what is being said on the matter is merely rumor.”
Tenenti emphasized UNIFIL’s commitment to supporting the Lebanese Army and reiterated its call for the Israeli military to withdraw from Lebanese territory. “We continue to support the Lebanese Army and call for the withdrawal of the Israeli army from southern Lebanon,” he said.
He also expressed concern over challenges faced by peacekeepers on the ground. “Some parties are hindering UNIFIL’s movements in southern Lebanon, even though Resolution 1701 allows us to operate without the Lebanese Army,” Tenenti noted, referring to the UN Security Council resolution that outlines the force’s mandate.
Warning that the security situation remains delicate, Tenenti stressed, “Stability in southern Lebanon is fragile, and Israel must put an end to its violations.”
Lebanese Defense Minister Michel Menassa visited the UNIFIL headquarters in Naqoura on Thursday, where he underscored the importance of renewing the mission’s mandate, set to expire at the end of August. He stressed that an extension is essential to restoring stability in southern Lebanon and initiating the reconstruction process.
The visit comes amid heightened regional tensions and follows a series of incidents involving UN peacekeepers and residents in southern villages, where locals have expressed opposition to UNIFIL patrols operating without the presence of the Lebanese army. It was also a courtesy visit to mission chief Aroldo Lázaro, whose mandate is nearing its end.
“We stress the need to renew UNIFIL’s mandate without any amendments and hope that ongoing efforts in this regard will succeed,” the minister said.
Meanwhile, the Lebanese Army removed an Israeli breach along the withdrawal line in the Saddana Heights, near the Rweissat al-Alam site.
Army engineers cleared earthen barriers that had blocked an access road in the contested area, reinforcing Lebanon’s stance on defending its territorial integrity.
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