Lebanese President calls for extending UNIFIL mandate in southern Lebanon

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun called on Monday for the extension of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) mandate as Israeli strikes continue in the south. According to a statement from the Lebanese presidency cited by Xinhua, Aoun stated that maintaining UNIFIL's presence encourages residents to remain in their villages and contributes to stability through coordination with the Lebanese army. In a separate statement, Aoun acknowledged that Lebanon is facing difficulties in implementing the framework agreement reached with Israel but stressed that Beirut would not retreat. He added that Lebanon aims to strengthen this framework to achieve breakthroughs on issues such as prisoners, borders, pilot areas, and a ceasefire. UNIFIL has operated in the region since 1978 and currently consists of nearly 8,200 troops from 47 countries. Last August, the UN Security Council extended the mission through December 31, 2026, despite pressure from Israel and the US to end the operation. UNIFIL has frequently been caught between Israel and Hezbollah. In October 2024, the IDF reported that Hezbollah launched rockets from compounds near UNIFIL positions, leading to Israeli strikes in the vicinity. While the IDF stated it warned peacekeepers to vacate those posts, UNIFIL has accused Israel of intentionally targeting its personnel.