Lebanon says committed to cooperating with UN peacekeeping mission

BEIRUT, Lebanon

Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said Wednesday his government is committed to cooperating with a UN peacekeeping mission operating in southern Lebanon.

Mikati met on Wednesday in the capital Beirut with United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) Commander Gen. Aroldo Lazaro.

“The government is committed by a UN Security Council resolution extending the UNIFIL mandate by one year and cooperating with the mission to maintain security in southern Lebanon,” Mikati said during the meeting as cited by a cabinet statement.

The premier hailed the “effective cooperation” between the Lebanese army and UNIFIL and called on the UN mission “to work to stop Israeli violations of Lebanese sovereignty."

Last week, the UN Security Council extended the mandate of the UN peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon by one year until August 31, 2024.

UNIFIL was established in 1978 to confirm Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon following an earlier invasion.

*Writing by Ikram Kouachi