UNIFIL Demands Lebanon, Israel to Authorize New Surveillance Technologies

UNIFIL peacekeepers patrolling in south Lebanon (AFP) 
UNIFIL peacekeepers patrolling in south Lebanon (AFP) 
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UNIFIL Demands Lebanon, Israel to Authorize New Surveillance Technologies

UNIFIL peacekeepers patrolling in south Lebanon (AFP) 
UNIFIL peacekeepers patrolling in south Lebanon (AFP) 

UN Security Council members on Monday inquired about the request of UNIFIL to possess new technologies that would guarantee the mission’s freedom of movement and access throughout its area of operations along the Blue Line in the south of Lebanon.

In closed consultations held on Monday, the UN Council members received a briefing on UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres’ latest report on the implementation of resolution 1701, which was circulated to Council members on 11 March.

The report urged prioritizing UNIFIL’s monitoring and verifying mechanisms, and enhancing tactical response in implementation of the resolution.

Adopted in 2006, Resolution 1701 called for a cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah.

At the session on Monday, Council members listened to briefings by Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert and Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix on developments in UNIFIL area of operations from south of the Litani River to the Blue Line in accordance with the Taif Accord and Security Council Resolutions 1559, 1701 and 1680.

The resolutions stipulate the disarmament of armed groups in Lebanon, including Hezbollah and the full control of territories by the Lebanese government.

 

In his 35-page report, the Secretary-General welcomed the “continued holding of the cessation of hostilities...despite challenges.”

The report registered progress towards the objective outlined in the cessation of hostilities arrangement of the withdrawal of the Israeli army south of the Blue Line and the deployment of the Lebanese armed forces.

It notes, however, that the “situation remains fragile” and that the Israeli army has “not yet completely withdrawn from Lebanese territory, remaining at five locations, and designating two areas as so called ‘buffer zones’ along the Blue Line.”

The Secretary-General also noted that the Lebanese Army has started to dismantle military infrastructure and confiscate weapons “believed to have belonged to Hezbollah south of the Litani River.”

Israel’s Withdrawal

In his report, Guterres urged parties to effectively implement their side of the cessation of hostilities arrangement and resolution 1701.

He notes that the Israeli army’s presence north of the Blue Line is a violation of Lebanese sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as of resolution 1701, and undermines the efforts of the Lebanese authorities to extend state authority throughout its territory.

The UN Chief also rejected the continued occupation of the northern part of the town of Ghajar and the adjacent area north of the Blue Line, condemning “all violations of Lebanese sovereignty.”

Aoun and Salam’s Efforts

Guterres welcomed recent political developments in Lebanon, such as the election of President Joseph Aoun on January 9, the designation on 13 January of Nawaf Salam as prime minister and the formation of the government on 8 February.

The Secretary-General spoke about the dramatic human impact and the utter level of destruction caused by the recent conflict in Lebanon, calling on donors to fully fund the 2025 Lebanon Response Plan and the Emergency Appeal.

Guterres expressed “optimism about Aoun’s pledge to take control of all arms outside state authority and fully implement the ceasefire deal with Israel.”

He called on the Lebanese Government to “facilitate the full implementation of the relevant provisions of the Taif Agreement and resolutions 1559, 1701 and 1680.

 

 



Iraq’s PMF Reinforces Deployment on Border with Syria 

A PMF vehicle is seen near the Iraqi-Syrian border. (Security media)
A PMF vehicle is seen near the Iraqi-Syrian border. (Security media)
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Iraq’s PMF Reinforces Deployment on Border with Syria 

A PMF vehicle is seen near the Iraqi-Syrian border. (Security media)
A PMF vehicle is seen near the Iraqi-Syrian border. (Security media)

The Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) in Iraq announced that their forces have deployed in new areas near the border with Syria.

Army commander Amir Rashid Yarallah also toured the border area in western Nineveh near Syria.

No reason was given for the reinforcements, but they took places a day after fierce fighting on the Lebanese-Syrian border and four days after Baghdad announced the killing of the head of ISIS in Iraq and Syria.

The US Central Command said Abdallah Maki Mosleh al-Rifai, or “Abu Khadija,” was killed in Iraq’s Anbar province in an operation in cooperation with Iraqi intelligence and security forces.

Iraqi authorities have tightened border security since the ouster of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in December to prevent the infiltration of gunmen and members of ISIS to the country.

The PMF said its new reinforcements are in line with a deployment plan launched by the Nineveh operations command to boost security and stability in the area.

Forces are equipped with medium and heavy weapons and they will monitor the border to protect the country against any possible threat, it added.

Field sources in al-Anbar said they did not detect any unusual military activity near the border with Syria.

Also on Tuesday, the PMF stated that it did not record any security breach along the border with Syria.

Anbar operations commander Qassem Mosleh told the Iraqi News Agency that his forces are highly trained and armed. Effective cooperation is ongoing with all security agencies, including the army and police.

Moreover, he highlighted the high coordination with tribes in the area that have provided information about ISIS terrorist gangs.

Foreign Miniter Fuad Hussein had received in Baghdad last week his Syrian counterpart Asaad al-Shaibani for talks on “joint security challenges”.