President Joseph Aoun reaffirmed Lebanon’s commitment to the continued deployment of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in the country’s south, underscoring the mission’s vital role in maintaining stability and implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1701 in coordination with the Lebanese Army.

Speaking during a meeting at the presidential palace with Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Aoun stressed that safeguarding stability in southern Lebanon is not only crucial for Lebanon itself but for the broader region as well.

“The role of UNIFIL in preserving calm along the southern border is essential,” Aoun said, warning that any disruption to its operations could undermine hard-won stability.

He expressed hope that donor nations would continue to provide the necessary funding for UN peacekeeping efforts, noting that financial strain could negatively impact the performance of the international force. Aoun said Lebanon would pursue diplomatic outreach to “friendly and brotherly nations” to ensure ongoing support for UNIFIL’s work.

In a gesture of appreciation, the Lebanese president Aoun awarded UNIFIL’s outgoing head of mission and force commander, Major General Aroldo Lázaro, the National Order of the Cedar at the rank of Commander. The decoration was in recognition of Lázaro’s leadership and service during his tenure overseeing the peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon.