BEIRUT: Lebanon’s caretaker prime minister stated that he rejected Iranian interference in Lebanese affairs, following the speaker of Iran’s parliament said Iran was ready to negotiate with Paris on executing a UN resolution concerning southern Lebanon.
UN Resolution 1701, approved in 2006, calls for the border region of southern Lebanon to be free of arms or forces other than those of the Lebanese state, with the aim of keeping peace on the border with Israel.
Prime Minister Najib Mikati said that negotiating to execute UN resolution 1701 was a matter for the Lebanon.
Under the Resolution, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) authorized a UN peacekeeping mission known as UNIFIL “to help” Lebanese troops in ensuring southern Lebanon is “free of any armed personnel, assets and arms other than those of the government of Lebanon.”
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Israel started a ground offensive in Lebanon on October 1 following almost a year of the current hostilities with Lebanese group Hezbollah in parallel with the war in the Gaza Strip.
The UNSC has also expressed strong concerns following several UN peacekeeping positions in southern Lebanon came under attack. The UN peacekeeping mission is currently authorized until August 31, 2025.
