Tinnenti: UNIFIL is Neutral and Does Not Monitor or Support Any Party

The official spokesperson for UNIFIL, Andrea Tinnenti, responded to a question from the National News Agency, stating, "We have seen the inaccurate reports that contribute to a serious misunderstanding about UNIFIL's mandate and the nature of its work." He added, "UNIFIL is neutral, we do not engage in monitoring activities, nor do we support any party. The only thing we support is peace. The pursuit of peace through the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701 is why we are here, and that is why we will continue to carry out the work assigned to us." He continued, "False claims can endanger the men and women who work for peace, while the mission makes every effort to mitigate tensions, prevent misunderstandings, and support local communities during this difficult period. This is done through patrols, about 20% of which are coordinated with the Lebanese Armed Forces, and reporting violations on both sides of the Blue Line, in addition to unique liaison channels designed to avoid misunderstandings and further escalation." Tinnenti stated, "We recognize that the long-standing crisis has caused severe harm to the people in South Lebanon. Emotions are running high, and inflammatory rhetoric can lead to a very dangerous situation." Tinnenti concluded, "Peace and stability are our only goals, and the reason we were invited by the Lebanese government to be here, and the reason we were given a mandate by the United Nations Security Council."