United Nations Reaffirms Support for Lebanon Amid UNIFIL Debate

United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jean Arnault stated that "whatever the decision regarding international forces, the United Nations is fundamentally committed to supporting the state and its local authorities in the South and Nabatieh governorates, and to making efforts to stand by their side."

Arnault's remarks came during his visit to Acting Governor of the South and Nabatieh Mansour Daou at his office in the Saida Seraya, leading a delegation that included his office team, Head of Political Affairs Muriel Rodriguez, Coordination Officer Alaa Abdel Aziz, and political and media advisors Mahassen Rahal and Pascal Al-Kassis.

Following a meeting where both sides discussed the situation, Arnault thanked Governor Daou for his reception, saying: "We all know that the region, a victim of war, is going through a difficult period of pressures while attacks continue against the people and institutions in the South. Our visit today is to confirm our support and backing for the state, its institutions, and its local authorities represented by Governor Daou, as well as for the citizens in the South and Nabatieh."

In response to a question, he said: "The Secretary-General of the United Nations recommended during his communication with the international community that international forces must remain in the South, even if their presence is less significant than it currently is," affirming that "the most important issue, which we are convinced of along with the Governor and southern citizens, is not allowing a vacuum to occur at the positions of international forces in the South after their withdrawal, for reasons related to security, humanitarian aid, and other matters. As you know, the decision to keep UNIFIL does not rest solely with the Secretary-General but with the member states of the Security Council."

He concluded: "Today, as we have done in the past, we urge countries to take into account the utmost importance of UNIFIL's presence in the region and the necessity of its continued presence in the South. Therefore, we urge the international community, in the event that the mandate for international forces is not extended, to work on finding alternative solutions that prevent a vacuum," reassuring the residents of Nabatieh and the South that they can rely on our support, which has been and will remain with them."