The Extension of UNIFIL forces operating in southern Lebanon, will be decided by UN Security Council, which hold a session at 5:00 p.m. Beirut time at 10:00 a.m. in New York, headed by the Permanent Representative of India and in the presence of delegates of the Member States who will discuss the facts and rationales mentioned by the Secretary-General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres in his letter addressed to the President of the session,  on August 4, which coincided with the first anniversary of the explosion of the Port of Beirut, in which he called for the extension of this temporary force for an additional year, according to Lebanon’s request, without any modification in tasks or in number.

In contrast to the American extremism, the permanent American representative to the United Nations, Linda Thomas Greenfield, seemed to be facilitating matters and passing the French project that the French mission in New York had been preparing without blatant modification in its terms, in contrast to previous stance.

According to what a diplomatic source in New York confirmed to “Al-Markaziya”, the extension is expected to be approved smoothly for an additional year, starting from the beginning of September and ending on the 31st of August 2022, and there is no intention from any party to obstruct it as a matter of not placing additional pressure on Lebanon, burdens under its crises, And to ensure the continuation of calm in the south.

What is remarkable about the US stance, is the urge to mention the logistical support of the Lebanese army in the resolution. This effort will be formally crystallized, so that the matter of supporting the Lebanese army to enable it to stand firm becomes obligatory on the countries by virtue of its inclusion in the resolution, which also calls for the formation of a government in Lebanon as soon as possible.

The session chairperson, India’s representative, Sri TS Tirumurti, is keen to include in the resolution a paragraph related to the need to protect the security and safety of UNIFIL personnel from attacks, as a draft resolution was presented in this regard related to the protection of the blue berets for peacekeeping in the world.