Extension of UNIFIL: Lebanon Rejects Chapter Seven

At a time when the United States threatens imminent sanctions on Lebanese figures due to the failure to hold presidential elections, Lebanon is facing a tough ongoing battle regarding its rejection of the extension of UNIFIL under Chapter Seven of the United Nations Charter. From New York, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants Abdallah Bouhabib announced Lebanon's rejection of the proposal put forward by the United States and France to extend UNIFIL's mandate starting from August 31. Bouhabib stated from New York that the reason for the rejection is that the extension does not consider coordination between UNIFIL and the Lebanese army when carrying out operations in the areas they occupy. He noted that the extension comes at the request of the Lebanese government, rejecting any legitimacy to transfer UNIFIL's mandate from Chapter Six, according to UN Security Council Resolution 171 issued in 2006, which calls for resolving disputes by peaceful means, to Chapter Seven of the UN Charter, which advocates for enforcing decisions by force. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield met with Minister Bouhabib and emphasized the "United States' support for ensuring a strong mandate from the UN Security Council to extend the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) so it can carry out its missions."