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UNIFIL hands over post
UNIFIL officially handed over a military position to the Lebanese army in southern Lebanon’s Khardali area on Thursday, in a move tied to transferring several longstanding UNIFIL positions to Lebanese army control.
“officially handed over a military position to the Lebanese army in southern Lebanon’s Khardali area”
The position, located near an army facility in the Khardali-Litani area, was handed over to the Lebanese army’s 7th Brigade, according to the Lebanese National News Agency.
UNIFIL said its peacekeepers, who hail from nearly 50 countries, remain "fully committed” to their mandate in southern Lebanon, where they continue to maintain a visible presence.
UNIFIL linked the handover to a U.N. Security Council decision to end UNIFIL’s mission in Lebanon by the end of this year, and it said the mandate is set to expire at the end of this year amid ongoing discussions over the future of the peacekeeping force’s mission.
Berri opposes ending
Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri said ending UNIFIL is the "greatest crime against south," emphasizing UNIFIL forces’ role in “maintaining security in the south and in supporting the Lebanese Army's deployment across all Lebanese territory up to the international border, as stipulated in Resolution 1701.”
In remarks to al-Joumhouria newspaper, Berri warned that "the greatest mistake and the greatest crime committed against the south would be ending UNIFIL's mandate there."
Berri also warned of Israel’s intentions in the south, citing "its intensified attacks on towns, villages, and their civilian and residential areas" and "the extensive detonations of southern villages."
The dispute over UNIFIL’s future is unfolding alongside UNIFIL’s own statements urging parties to renew their commitment to UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and avoid actions that could increase tensions.
Escalation and projectiles
UNIFIL troops reported a sharp increase in Israeli military activity in southern Lebanon over the past two weeks, warning civilians of the heaviest impact of the escalation of tensions.
“Between August 5 and 16, UNIFIL recorded an average of 137 projectiles per day”
In a statement, UNIFIL said that between August 5 and 16 it recorded an average of 137 projectiles per day, including 208 projectiles on Saturday and 185 on Sunday.
UNIFIL said civilians are once again bearing the brunt of the consequences, with many families forced to flee or change their daily routines due to an unsafe and uncertain situation.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun expressed support for extending the mandate of UNIFIL and implementing a formula that guarantees the continuation of the international forces' presence in the region, while UNIFIL reiterated that "instability is not in anyone’s interest" and urged renewal of Resolution 1701.