Beirut- The international emergency forces file returned in Southern Lebanon “UNIFIL” to lead the interface of the political and security scenes, in a precise regional moment in which the complications of the Lebanese interior with the accelerated escalation between Iran and Israel, especially in light of the “rising lion” and “sincere promise 3” operations.
In the midst of this turbulent context, Lebanon races time to mobilize international support for the purpose of renewing the authorization UNIFIL forcesAt a time when military experts go, in their conversation with Al -Jazeera Net, that Israel is heading towards emptying the south from any international control documenting its repeated violations in preparation for expanding the margin of its military maneuver.
And on the impact of the increasing warnings of prejudice to the essence Resolution 1701 to stop the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006Indicators are highlighted on undeclared pressures, which are not aimed at ending the mission of “UNIFIL”, but rather re -drawing their powers in a way that empties them – according to experts – from its primary role.
Lash
For his part, Andrea Tentente spokesman, Andrea Tentei, confirmed to Al -Jazeera Net that what was recently circulated in some media outlets regarding its withdrawal or the non -renewal of its mandate is not based on accurate information and depends on unknown sources.
Regarding the challenges associated with the renewal of the mandate of “UNIFIL”, Tennte pointed out that the decision will return to the member states of Security Council Which will be decided next August, whether it will be on the current mandate or amendments to it.
With regard to the field, Tennte explained that the current role of the “UNIFIL” forces in southern Lebanon is centered on maintaining stability in an area that is currently witnessing “a very fragile situation that is deteriorating in light of recent developments.
He pointed to the continued shooting inside Lebanese territory, in addition to monitoring the existence of the Israeli army forces within the Lebanese border, which is a “clear violation of Resolution 1701”.
He revealed that “the past months have witnessed the discovery of a large number of shelters, ammunition hideouts and military sites that were previously used by armed groups or HezbollahThis was done in close and previous coordination with the Lebanese army, which was considered by the main party concerned with maintaining security in the south.
According to Tintei, the tasks of “UNIFIL” are not limited to military patrols, but continue to support local communities at this precise stage by implementing hundreds of activities daily, which varies between removing mines and unexploded ammunition, opening roads, and providing medical support, with the participation of approximately 10,000 soldiers to save peace from 48 countries.
Pressure context
Tinette also stressed that Resolution 1701 gives her the authority to carry out surveillance and patrols within the area of operations, whether or without the Lebanese army, which was valid since 2006, despite what he described as a continuous misunderstanding of this aspect. He stressed that all activities are carried out in full coordination with the Lebanese army, and no step is taken without prior discussion.
He pointed out that most of the mission activities do not face obstacles, but some “individual behaviors” may sometimes cause tensions with the local population. All the people of southern Lebanon called for an understanding of the role of “UNIFIL” in fact as it is based on the support of the population and the restoration of stability to their regions.
The military expert, Brigadier Hassan Johnny, believes, in an interview with Al -Jazeera Net, that the current controversy and the increasing pressure on the “UNIFIL” forces are not aimed at preventing the renewal of the mandate, but rather seeks to impose new conditions for its extension, which gives it a more effective role.
He added that what is going on is read within the context of pressure on the Lebanese state and the “Hezbollah in particular”, to push them to accept the expansion of the UNIFIL movement, because the issue is not related to the status of forces under the seventh chapter, but rather to amend the rules of field engagement, especially since there are clear indications that these forces cannot carry out tasks independent of the Lebanese army, given the sensitivity of the southern reality and the position of the population.
This debate may carry – according to Johnny – an indirect message that any separate move to UNIFIL on coordination with the army will not be welcome, although the penultimate amendment of the mandate permitted it to carry out some tasks independently, and therefore the waving not an extension appears closer to a pressure card than an actual option.
And he warns that the lack of renewal, if happening, will have serious repercussions:
- Firstly: The threat of the essence of Resolution 1701, which is mainly based on the presence of international emergency forces.
- secondly: The area will lose the indirect communication channel between the Lebanese and Israeli armies, which is the mechanism that allows for frictions and the prevention of escalation.
According to the expert Johnny, the absence of “UNIFIL” also means the absence of the international eye, which monitors violations and documents Israeli attacks, giving Tel Aviv a broader margin to move in the south, and increases the possibility of escalation without international deterrent.
Israel’s position
For his part, the military expert, Brigadier Baha Halal, believes that Israel does not hide its refusal to the presence of the “UNIFIL” forces in the south Litani RiverEspecially in light of the close coordination between these Lebanese forces and the Lebanese army, which makes it a “eye of Raida” for the occupation’s movements and a permanent carrier of its violations.
In his speech to Al -Jazeera Net, he recalls that the Israeli army bombed during the July 2006 war, a UNIFIL center in the town of Qana, in a clear message to its hostile position to any party that monitors its field performance.
Regarding the fate of these international forces, the military expert indicates that the possible scenarios in the form of the non -renewal of the mandate are related to the existing equation in the south, which includes Lebanese citizens, the resistance and the Lebanese army alongside “UNIFIL”, and confirms that Israel is working to undermine this equation by pressure on all its components, in preparation for creating a security and humanitarian vacuum that allows it to achieve its goals.
He adds that the resistance committed to Resolution 1701 and withdrew its elements from the south of Litani and handed over its positions to the Lebanese army in coordination with United NationsWhich made the only parties scattered on the ground are the army and “UNIFIL”, but Israel – according to the expert – does not welcome any effective role for the Lebanese army and seeks to restrict its movement, including through what is known as the “five -year committee” concerned with coordination.
He warns that Tel Aviv is intensifying its pressure to withdraw “UNIFIL”, especially if the extension is not extended according to its conditions identifying with the American vision, and it is believed that the absence of these forces may open the door to a new Israeli aggression aimed at progressing towards the Litani River, especially in light of “an actual absence of resistance south, and the weak ability of the Lebanese army to fight an open confrontation of this kind.”
The Israeli -American goal is not limited to ending the role of “UNIFIL”, but rather to reshape this force within the “multinational” framework, which works under Chapter Seven and spreads north of Litani, which means in practice the transfer of the crisis from its south to its north, within the framework of a deliberate plan to re -draw the map of control in southern Lebanon, according to the expert Bahaa Halal.