BEIRUT, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations (UN) should take Lebanon's position into account in discussions on the future of its peacekeeping presence in the country, UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix said Wednesday.
Lacroix told reporters after meeting Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at Baabda Palace that the situation on the ground remained complicated, with ongoing military activity severely affecting residents, adding that the UN believed it could continue to contribute to regional stability, according to a statement released by the Lebanese Presidency.
Lacroix said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had presented the Security Council with several options for maintaining a UN presence after the mandate of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) expires. The options, based on consultations with Lebanese authorities, remained under consideration.
He said Lebanon's request for a temporary extension of UNIFIL's mandate should be considered, as the issue directly concerns the country's security and sovereignty.
Aoun, for his part, stressed Lebanon's commitment to keeping UNIFIL in southern Lebanon, citing its contributions throughout its mandate and the sacrifices made by its personnel.
He warned that the force's withdrawal could create a security vacuum, particularly as Israeli forces continue to occupy southern Lebanese villages and towns, most of which fall within UNIFIL's area of operations.
UNIFIL was first established in 1978 to confirm Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon. After the 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel, UNIFIL's mandate was expanded by Resolution 1701 to monitor the cessation of hostilities and to accompany the deployment of Lebanese armed forces throughout southern Lebanon as Israel withdrew its troops.
In August 2025, the Security Council extended UNIFIL's mandate for the final time until Dec. 31, 2026, with a drawdown and withdrawal to follow within one year. ■
