Temporary difficulties: Russia will support the extension of the UN mission in Lebanon in the Security Council
- Статьи
- World
- Temporary difficulties: Russia will support the extension of the UN mission in Lebanon in the Security Council
At the end of August, Russia will vote to maintain the UN peacekeeping contingent in southern Lebanon, despite widespread proposals to completely disband the mission. This was stated by Russian Ambassador to Beirut Alexander Rudakov in an interview with Izvestia. According to the diplomat, Moscow is also recording the process of disarming Hezbollah and transferring the arsenal to the control of the Lebanese army — against the background of daily violations by Israel and the continuing risk of a repeat of the autumn war of 2024. What measures the United States threatens if the Lebanese side does not comply with the ultimatum put forward by Special Representative Tom Barak, and what future awaits the UN contingent in this country — in the Izvestia article.
Peacekeeping mission in Lebanon
By the end of August, the UN Security Council should consider a resolution extending the mandate of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), effective until the 31st. Closed-door consultations on this issue are expected to be held in New York on August 18. Various scenarios for the future of the mission, including its complete disbandment, are already being actively discussed in diplomatic circles.
— We have historically supported the presence of peacekeepers along the Blue Line. We will vote with the same spirit at the relevant UN Security Council meeting at the end of August. We proceed from the fact that the extension of the UNIFIL mandate in its current form reflects the interests of official Beirut, which the local authorities have repeatedly conveyed to us as the host country," Russian Ambassador to Lebanon Alexander Rudakov told Izvestia.
The head of the diplomatic mission noted that various assumptions about the possible transformation of the mandate of peacekeepers in the south of the country have been discussed in the press for a long time. Among the ideas is the transfer of the mission under Chapter VII of the UN Charter (allowing it to use military force to stop violations of Resolution 1701) or its complete elimination and replacement with multinational forces.
— We treat such scenarios with great caution. First of all, because, unfortunately, they are often based on the pursuit of geopolitical goals, rather than a sincere desire to achieve stability in relations between Lebanon and Israel," the diplomat explained.
The United Nations Interim Force, which numbers approximately 10,5 thousand people, has been deployed in the Lebanese-Israeli border zone since 1978. The mission's initial mandate was to confirm the withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon and restore the authority of the Lebanese Government there. Subsequently, the UN designated a 120-kilometer temporary zone of the Lebanese-Israeli border, known as the "blue Line" (named after the color of the peacekeepers' helmets).
The ambassador added that the upcoming vote will be "a litmus test that will show who is on the side of Lebanon and who is not."
Israel is seeking to curtail the peacekeeping mission, the Haaretz newspaper reported. At the same time, the White House denied Israel Hayom's reports about the alleged decision to eliminate UNIFIL, although Washington recognizes that the option of refusing to support the mission is indeed being discussed.
Disarming Hezbollah
The key factor influencing the situation in southern Lebanon remains the implementation of the ceasefire agreements reached between Israel and Hezbollah in November 2024. According to Alexander Rudakov, Russia notes the "serious efforts of the Lebanese side" to fulfill the terms of the agreement.
— We are recording the disarmament of Hezbollah and the transfer of its arsenal under the wing of the Lebanese Armed Forces south of the Litani River. At the same time, we are witnessing the deployment of an additional military contingent of the national army in the south of the country. We believe that this is a step in the right direction," the diplomat said.
However, according to Alexander Rudakov, Israel's actions undermine the fragile truce.
— Israel, in violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, strikes Lebanese territory almost daily, conducts liquidations, and invades airspace. Sometimes the infantry units of the Israeli Armed Forces carry out attacks on the sovereign territory of the republic. And this is despite the fact that "the war seems to be over," he stressed.
Moscow is convinced that such an asymmetry in the approaches of the parties to the implementation of the agreements is a powerful destabilizing factor.
— We call on all parties to implement resolution 1701. Otherwise, there is a high risk of returning to the events of last autumn, and this, I am convinced, does not correspond to anyone's interests," the Russian ambassador concluded.
On September 23, 2024, Israel launched Operation Arrows of the North against Hezbollah, launching airstrikes against targets in Lebanon. On September 27, the General Secretary of the movement, Hassan Nasrallah, was killed in a bombing in Beirut. Despite this, Hezbollah declared its readiness to continue resistance. On October 1, the Israeli army announced the start of a ground operation in southern Lebanon.
The ceasefire agreement came into force on November 27. According to the agreement, Israel was obliged to withdraw its troops from Lebanon within 60 days, and Hezbollah was to move its armed forces north of the Litani River. The agreement also provides for Lebanon's control of the southern border with the support of UNIFIL. To date, the IDF still maintains a presence in five areas on Lebanese territory.
US threats to Lebanon
In recent months, the United States has stepped up pressure on Beirut to accelerate the disarmament of Hezbollah. In June, the American special representative for Syria and Ambassador to Turkey, Tom Barak, handed over to the Lebanese authorities a so-called roadmap, according to which the elimination of the Shiite movement's arsenal should be completed within four months in exchange for the withdrawal of Israeli troops from five occupied villages.
The threat of new Israeli aggression remains, says Jamal Wakim, a professor at the Lebanese University. According to him, the war has not actually ended — Lebanon is under attack every day.
— Israel is trying to impose a new reality, from which it will benefit for the next decades. Therefore, such a threat remains, and the main question now is whether the resistance will retain its deterrence capability," Jamal Vakim notes.
According to Asharq al-Awsat, citing sources in the Lebanese parliament and government, Washington refused to meet Hezbollah's preconditions for an end to Israeli attacks and the complete withdrawal of IDF forces from Lebanese territory.
Tom Barak himself made a number of harsh statements against Lebanon, saying that the country risks facing collapse or external governance if it does not disarm Hezbollah. In an interview with The National, he stressed that if Beirut does not take urgent measures, the region will once again turn into Bilad al-Sham, the historical name of Greater Syria. "The Syrians say: Lebanon is our beach resort. So we need to act," said the American emissary.
Barak also said that the United States is ready to provide financial support to Lebanon, but for a reason. According to him, assistance will be provided only if Beirut agrees to a comprehensive deal providing for the "complete disarmament of Hezbollah."
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
