On Wednesday, residents of Deir Siryan, close to Hezbollah, protested after a Finnish UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) patrol reportedly entered private olive groves without being accompanied by the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF).
The incident comes ahead of a vote on the extension of UNIFIL’s mandate, with the UN Security Council scheduled to decide on August 25. The current mandate of the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon is set to expire at the end of August.
On Monday, the Security Council began debating a draft resolution submitted by France to extend UNIFIL’s mission by one year. The future of UN peacekeepers in Lebanon has become a point of contension between the United States and Europe, raising broader implications for regional security.
Since the November 27, 2024 ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, multiple incidents have targeted UNIFIL patrols in southern Lebanon, including confrontations with civilians.
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