Defense Minister Michel Menassa (left) and UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander Major General Aroldo Lázaro (right) (Courtesy of Muntasser Abdallah/L'Orient Today)
The Defense Ministry and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Tuesday, with participation and support from the French government. The agreement provides a donation aimed at supplying the Lebanese Army with fuel and food, essential resources amid the country’s economic difficulties.
The signing ceremony took place at the ministry’s headquarters in Yarzeh, where the MoU was signed by Defense Minister Michel Menassa and UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander Major General Aroldo Lázaro.
Menassa expressed gratitude toward France for “its ongoing support to Lebanon and its armed forces,” and praised UNIFIL’s leadership for their “tireless efforts and sacrifices to preserve stability in south Lebanon and strengthen coordination with the Lebanese Army.” He emphasized the critical importance of UNIFIL’s continued mission, voicing hope that the U.N. force’s mandate will be renewed in August “without any hindrances.”
Menassa described the donation as “significant for two reasons: first, because of its vital nature amid our difficult economic circumstances; and second, because it reflects our friends’ understanding of the needs of the Lebanese Army and the conditions under which it operates.”
“France has proven itself to be a sincere and reliable partner, one that understands the specificity of the Lebanese context and recognizes the challenges facing the army. This unique initiative, carried out in cooperation with UNIFIL, is clear evidence of that,” he stated.
The minister also noted that the “direct support reaching the army units deployed in the south will help the military institution fulfill its national duties and reinforce Lebanon’s commitment to implementing U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701 and maintaining the cessation of hostilities.”
However, the signing occurred against a backdrop of rising tensions in southern Lebanon. On Tuesday morning, an altercation broke out between local residents and a UNIFIL patrol, prompting peacekeepers to use “non-lethal measures,” including warning shots and tear gas, according to UNIFIL statements.
Confrontations between southern residents and UNIFIL have increased in recent weeks, despite a call for calm issued about two weeks ago by Parliamentary Speaker Nabih Berri, a Hezbollah ally. UNIFIL’s freedom of movement without a Lebanese Army escort has come under growing scrutiny in recent years, particularly amid pressure from Hezbollah.
Under Resolution 1701, UNIFIL is authorized to operate independently "in the areas where its forces are deployed." The force operates under Chapter VI of the U.N. Charter, which does not authorize the use of force to carry out its mandate. Meanwhile, the Lebanese Army lacks sufficient personnel to accompany all UNIFIL patrols at all times.
The latest tensions come ahead of a scheduled U.N. vote in August to renew the force’s mandate. The mandate’s future has drawn attention following reports in the Israeli press suggesting the United States and Israel may oppose its renewal. A U.S. diplomatic source told L’Orient Today that reports of a U.S. veto were "inaccurate."