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UNIFIL anniversary amid escalation
Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles visited the Miguel de Cervantes base in Lebanon to thank Spanish soldiers for their work on the twentieth anniversary of the mission as security deteriorated amid escalation between Israel and Hezbollah.
“Margarita Robles visited this Thursday the Miguel de Cervantes base in Lebanon”
Robles met the contingent of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and told the troops, “It is a pride to witness the magnificent work they do for peace and security,” according to a press release from Spain’s Ministry of Defense.
The visit took place in Marjayoun, where Robles said Spanish uniforms “are a guarantee of professionalism” and “provide security to all who have the opportunity to be near them.”
Spain maintains nearly 700 military personnel in the Blue Line area, and the current UNIFIL mandate runs until December 31, 2026, with no changes announced in the schedule.
Tyre remarks and strikes
In southern Lebanon, Israeli forces continued assaults on Friday with airstrikes, artillery shelling, and explosive operations across multiple areas, while Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati spoke from the city of Tyre about pursuing a full withdrawal.
Mikati said, “We will not spare effort to achieve a full withdrawal of the Israeli occupation from its lands,” and he added that sovereignty can only be restored by building a capable state and a single strong army.
The Lebanese National News Agency described intermittent shelling targeting the outskirts of the town of Mivdoun toward the eastern Zotar area, and it reported night explosions in Hadatha and Ta’iri in southern Lebanon.
Another report said Israel carried out an air strike on Barhashit synchronized with Mikati’s visit to Tyre, while Israeli bombing hit the area of Al-Manasouri-Majdal Zoun and artillery shelling targeted the outskirts of Meffodon toward the eastern Zotar.
UNIFIL future and human cost
As diplomatic movements coincided with the escalation, Annhahar said President Michel Aoun was due to meet Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to discuss, among other issues, the future of UNIFIL as its mission approaches its end later this year.
“the future of UNIFIL, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon”
The same report described continued Israeli violations in southern Lebanon, including bombardments, bombings, and destruction in towns and residential neighborhoods.
In parallel, another source tied the current aggression to a framework agreement signed in Tel Aviv and Beirut on June 26 under American auspices, saying Israel continues aggression that began on March 2 and has left more than 4,000 people killed and 12,000 injured.
That source also said Israel advanced more than 10 kilometers during the current aggression, while the agreement provided for a gradual Israeli withdrawal from all occupied Lebanese territory in exchange for the Lebanese army deploying there alongside disarming armed groups, referring to Hezbollah.