Today, Wednesday, the Head of UNIFIL and its Force Commander, Major General Aroldo Lazaro, chaired a tripartite meeting with senior officers of the Lebanese Armed Forces and the Israeli Army at a United Nations site in Ras Naqoura. The discussions focused on the situation along the Blue Line, air and ground violations, and other issues within UNIFIL's mandate under UN Security Council Resolution 1701 (2006) and subsequent resolutions.
Major General Lazaro expressed concern "about a series of incidents along the Blue Line in recent months that have led to increased tension." He urged the parties to continue utilizing the liaison and coordination mechanisms that UNIFIL oversees while avoiding unilateral actions. He also called for "participation in discussions on the Blue Line to address pending issues, highlighting the importance of positive signals from both sides before the Security Council considers renewing UNIFIL's mandate."
He added, "Since the end of the 2006 War in Southern Lebanon, regular tripartite meetings have been held under UNIFIL's auspices as a key mechanism for conflict management and building trust. Today's meeting was the 162nd in this framework. Through the liaison and coordination mechanisms, UNIFIL remains the only forum where the Lebanese Army and the Israeli Army meet officially."
