Defense and Foreign Ministry warn that UNIFIL will not leave Lebanon despite pressure from Israel

Eduardo González The Ministers of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, and Defense, Margarita Robles, have assured this Wednesday that the United Nations Interim Force for Lebanon (UNIFIL) will continue on the ground despite the statements and even the armed attacks of Israel against the mission. The mission is in Lebanon “under a mandate from the United Nations Security Council,” Albares said in Cairo during a press conference after his meeting with the Egyptian Foreign Minister, Badr Abdelaty. “Of course, the UNIFIL troops are not going to withdraw,” he said. “We clearly and directly ask Israel to stop the attacks on UNIFIL that are contrary to International Law and to stop the harassment of a peacekeeping and interposition force that only works for the benefit of the security of the entire Middle East,” he warned. For her part, the Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, held a meeting via videoconference on Wednesday with the counterparts of the 16 States of the European Union (France, Italy, Austria, Croatia, Finland, Greece, Ireland, Latvia, Holland, Poland, Germany, Estonia, Hungary, Malta and Cyprus) with a presence in UNIFIL. During the meeting, according to the Ministry, they expressed their “firm determination” to continue with the mission, considering it “pertinent and necessary.” “We have been very clear in saying that it is essential and fundamental that this mission continues in order to comply with the United Nations Resolution,” said Robles. “No one but the United Nations itself can make decisions about this mission and, therefore, we will remain united in Lebanon defending the values of this resolution,” she warned. “We will be very firm in asking for the cessation of hostilities, for an immediate ceasefire, for the protection of UNIFIL facilities and the lives of all the people who are currently carrying out such an essential mission,” said the Minister of Defense. The ministers also highlighted the work carried out by the contingents in Lebanon, both for the de-escalation of the conflict and for aid to the civilian population. In this regard, Robles expressed her “pride” in the work of the 650 Spanish soldiers who are part of the UNIFIL mission, which is under the command of Lieutenant General Aroldo Lázaro. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday demanded that UN Secretary-General António Guterres withdraw UNIFIL, saying its troops had become “human shields” for the Shiite militia Hezbollah. Last week, the Israeli army carried out two attacks against the UNIFIL headquarters in Naqura in just 48 hours, causing four injuries among the mission members, after which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the chargé d'affaires of the Israeli Embassy in Madrid to convey its complaint.

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