Lebanon’s PM stresses need to ‘avert vacuum’ if UN force leaves
The UN Security Council last month decided to end Unifil’s mandate in December after pressure from the US.
Lebanon's Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, speaking at the United Nations on Friday, emphasized the necessity of preventing a power vacuum should the UN peacekeeping mission Unifil withdraw from southern Lebanon. This mission, which has been present since 1978, is scheduled to conclude its mandate in December under pressure from the United States.
Salam underscored that the absence of a new international force to replace Unifil could result in a vacuum, at the General Assembly. Currently, the UN has 7,500 peacekeepers from 50 nations stationed in southern Lebanon, along a 120km buffer zone marking the de facto border with Israel. Salam also advocated for Israel's complete withdrawal from Lebanese territory and for Beirut to assume control over weapons, which should be held solely by the state.
He noted that while Hezbollah, backed by Iran, opposes disarmament, Lebanon and Israel signed a framework agreement in June for Israeli forces' gradual withdrawal and Hezbollah's disarmament. However, its implementation has been stalled, aiming to resolve a decades-long conflict.
Written by urgent.news from Free Malaysia Today's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
Also reported by 1 other outlet
- Lebanon’s PM stresses need to ‘avert vacuum’ if UN force leaves freemalaysiatoday.com
