Washington Sets New Conditions for Any Extension of 'UNIFIL'

"Nidaa al-Watan" learned from sources that the American stance on any extension of UNIFIL's mandate, or any form of international force presence in the south, is tied to a fundamental rethinking of its tasks and role, so that its mission goes beyond monitoring and documenting violations to actively contributing—alongside the Lebanese Army—to disarming Hezbollah and dismantling its military infrastructure, including weapons depots and tunnels.

According to the same sources, Washington does not appear ready to approve an extension of the mission in its current form, based on the view that over recent years UNIFIL has witnessed Hezbollah strengthening its military infrastructure and digging an extensive network of tunnels across its operational areas without being able to prevent or effectively respond to such actions. Therefore, under the American approach, any future international presence in the south would be linked to clear changes in operating rules and mandates, as well as the ability to contribute to ensuring state monopoly over arms in Lebanon.

Nidaa al-Watan