France has proposed deploying the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in areas liberated by Israel under the current ceasefire agreement as Israel continues its withdrawal from southern Lebanon.
The ongoing Israeli withdrawal was described as an “important” step in fulfilling commitments under the ceasefire agreement signed last November, the French Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.
The statement stressed that Israeli troops were still present in five different locations on Lebanese territory and should be fully withdrawn, which would involve the deployment of UNIFIL in those areas.
“UNIFIL, including the French contingent, could deploy in these five positions in close proximity to the Blue Line in order to replace the Israeli armed forces and guarantee the security of the population living there,” the statement said.
UN Security Council Resolution 1701 prescribes a ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel and establishes a weapons-free zone between the Blue Line, the de facto border, and the Litani River, excluding the Lebanese army and UNIFIL peacekeeping forces.
The fragile truce has been in effect in Lebanon since November 27, ending months of mutual shelling between Israel and Hezbollah that escalated into full-scale conflict last September.
