Lebanon urges UN to maintain UNIFIL presence amid Israeli occupation of south

DUBAI: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has urged the UN Security Council to extend the mandate of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) for another year, warning that its withdrawal would leave a security vacuum in southern Lebanon. Meeting UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Aoun reaffirmed Lebanon’s commitment to the continued presence of the peacekeeping force, highlighting its role since the start of its mission and the sacrifices made by its military perso