A Western diplomat told Agence France-Presse that the idea of deploying multinational forces in southern Lebanon alongside the army has been raised in the event of a ceasefire between Hezbollah and the Israeli army.
The diplomat added, preferring to remain anonymous, “What we need now is a ceasefire and a presence that is trusted by both sides, and this presence may be through the Lebanese Armed Forces with international forces,” referring to forces outside the framework of UNIFIL.
The Western diplomat said, “The push to implement Resolution 1701 Plus (1701 +, with an addition) is a reflection of the fact that neither side has implemented Resolution 1701.”
Officials and local media are talking about proposals being conveyed by diplomats to Lebanon in order to make amendments or additions to Resolution 1701.
The basis for any solution
US Special Envoy Amos Hockstein said on Monday during a visit to Beirut that public commitment to UN Security Council Resolution 1701 is “not enough” to put an end to the current conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, stressing the need for it to be the basis for any solution, “with the additional thing that can be done to ensure It is implemented in a fair and transparent manner.
For his part, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati expressed last week his country’s readiness to increase the number of Lebanese army forces in the south of the country to be able to control the border region in the event of a ceasefire agreement with Israel.
According to the Western diplomat, “Lebanon’s partners have already begun to support the Lebanese Armed Forces, and they are concretely looking at how to support them further so that they are ready in the context of a ceasefire and a long-term diplomatic agreement.”
Resolution 1701 was issued by the UN Security Council on August 11, 2006, and established a cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah after a war they fought in the summer of 2006, and stipulated the complete withdrawal of Israel from Lebanon, strengthening the spread of the UNIFIL force, and restricting the military presence in the border area to the Lebanese army. And international power.
Since September 23, Israel has escalated its air strikes on the southern suburb of Beirut and in the south and east of the country, and later began ground incursions south.