BEIRUT, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese President Joseph Aoun welcomed the extension of the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) on Thursday, calling it a result of broad international consensus to support stability in southern Lebanon.
Aoun made the remarks in a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron, after the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) unanimously voted to extend UNIFIL's mandate for a final term through Dec. 31, 2026, Lebanon's Presidency said in a statement.
Aoun thanked Macron for France's active role at the United Nations and its coordination with other Security Council members, which helped build consensus on extending UNIFIL's mandate.
The unanimous vote came just days before UNIFIL's mandate was due to expire on August 31. The 15-member Security Council unanimously adopted a French-drafted resolution calling for UNIFIL to end operations by the end of 2026, and to begin within a year an orderly and safe drawdown of its personnel.
Aoun hailed the decision as "a significant step forward" that would strengthen the Lebanese Army's ability to fully deploy along the country's internationally recognized borders, once Israel completes its full withdrawal, hostilities cease, and Lebanese detainees are returned.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam also welcomed the move, thanking all Security Council member states for their constructive engagement in the negotiations.
The extension is seen as a decisive step, increasing pressure on both Israel and Lebanon to honor their international obligations and advance toward a permanent settlement of their border dispute. Enditem
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