""To be very honest, it's it's one of mixed emotion because only months ago, there was a very significant chance, perhaps only weeks ago, that there was going to be an immediate end, that the mandate would not be renewed, that it would not get through the Security Council. My immediate concern as Minister for Defence then was what that would mean for the security of our own troops, for the security of the peacekeepers in general, and for security in the region.""
""I don't want to speak for the United States of America, far from it, but I think they've outlined their views on a number of occasions, including what seems to be a cost-containment view that they take to the United Nations and its work in general. However, I must say, we did have constructive engagement with""
UN Security Council voted to extend the mandate of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) until the end of 2026. The agreement includes a year-long safe withdrawal plan that will hand over duties to Lebanese armed forces. UNIFIL, established in 1978, patrols Lebanon's southern border with Israel and receives annual authorisation renewals; the current authorisation expires this Sunday. The United States and Israel had sought removal of UN troops next year but agreed to extend the mission beyond 2026 after negotiations. Ireland deploys around 350 peacekeepers to UNIFIL and maintains a longstanding association with the mission. Concerns were raised about security implications for personnel and regional stability if the mandate ended immediately.
Read at Irish Independent
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