G7 Defense Ministers Reaffirm Support for UNIFIL & Lebanese Army

Defense ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) have expressed their commitment to supporting the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and the Lebanese Army to ensure Lebanon's stability and security, as reported by Lebanese media outlets.

During a defense summit held by the G7, Josep Borrell, the European Union's Foreign Policy Chief, suggested on Saturday that the mandate of the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon could be strengthened. Speaking on the sidelines of the summit, Borrell stated, "They cannot act independently, it's definitely a limited role. Expanding the role could be considered but would require a resolution from the United Nations Security Council."

On the social media platform X, Borrell underscored the need for significant steps in Lebanon, including "an immediate ceasefire" and "a stronger mandate for UNIFIL forces." He noted, "There is a new political context in Lebanon, fraught with risks, but it also could lead to changes. The most important aspect is the potential for the country to finally build its full sovereignty, which is undermined by external actors."

Borrell called for the implementation of Resolution 1701, which established a cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah after the destructive war they fought in the summer of 2006.

A UNIFIL spokesperson reported that forces operating in southern Lebanon had been targeted several times, indicating that five of these attacks were "deliberate."

Resolution 1701 enhanced the presence of UNIFIL and charged it with monitoring the ceasefire between the sides. UNIFIL forces are deployed between the Litani River and the Lebanese-Israeli border, with their headquarters located at Ras Naqoura on the border.