Lebanese PM condemns Netanyahu’s call for UNIFIL withdrawal

MADRID 13 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) –

The Prime Minister of Lebanon, Nayib Mikati, has condemned the call launched this Sunday by the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, for the withdrawal of the 10,000 soldiers of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) who are deployed in the south from Lebanon.

“Netanyahu is not only attacking Lebanon, causing countless deaths and destruction, but he is also showing his hostility to the UN forces (UNIFIL) operating in the south of the country,” Mikati said, according to the Lebanese news agency. NNA.

Mikati thus referred to Netanyahu’s “warning” to the UN Secretary General, António Guterres, calling for the withdrawal of UNIFIL “in a new attempt by the enemy to breach international legality and the relevant resolutions.”

The Lebanese Prime Minister believes that the international community and the UN must assume their responsibility and use this Israeli position against the American, French and Arab request for a ceasefire as an “incentive” to adopt an “appropriate position.” .

“Lebanon condemns Netanyahu’s stance and Israeli aggression against UNIFIL and renews its commitment to international legality, Resolution 1701, the role of the United Nations forces in the south and its positive cooperation with the Army,” Mikati added. .

For all these reasons, “Lebanon urges the international community to adopt a firm position to stop Israeli aggression against Lebanon and also defend international legality.”

This Sunday, Netanyahu has openly asked the Secretary General of the United Nations, António Guterres, for the withdrawal of UNIFIL, whose members have become, in his opinion, “human shields” for the Hezbollah militias that, in addition, put in danger to the Israeli military operating in the country.

UNIFIL, established in 1978, is made up of around 10,500 soldiers from around 50 countries, of which around 650 are Spanish, who ensure the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon. On October 1, the Israeli Armed Forces launched a ground invasion into Lebanon with the stated objective of attacking the militias of the Shiite Hezbollah party.