The US is threatening to use its UN Security Council veto to block the extension of UNIFIL’s mandate if its demands for reforming the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon aren’t granted, the Walla news site reports.
Citing US and Israeli officials, the news site says the Trump administration is pushing to reduce limitations on UNIFIL’s movements in southern Lebanon, where the Hezbollah terror group has an extensive presence, among other changes.
The US also reportedly wants to cut the number of UNIFIL troops from 15,000 to 11,000.
The report says Israel and the US have reached out to countries that supply soldiers to the force and Security Council member states to clarify they’ll oppose the extension if the changes aren’t made.
“Both we and the Americans stress that in the current reality, Hezbollah is too comfortable with UNIFIL and the situation can’t continue,” an Israeli official is quoted saying.
Help us report truthfully on social media
As a multimedia journalist, my job is to take the quality, fact-based journalism produced by The Times of Israel newsroom and make it accessible across every platform — from Instagram posts to podcasts to short-form videos.
This is how many, especially young people, consume news these days. But misinformation is rampant on social media. Our team at ToI produces accurate, responsible short-form reporting on Israel and the Jewish world.
If you believe in the importance of factual social media journalism, please consider joining our reader support group, The Times of Israel Community. Your financial support is essential to sustain responsible multimedia reporting.
— Gabriella Jacobs, multimedia journalist
Support our work
Support our work
Already a member? Sign in to stop seeing this
You're a dedicated reader
We’re really pleased that you’ve read X Times of Israel articles in the past month.
That’s why we started the Times of Israel - to provide discerning readers like you with must-read coverage of Israel and the Jewish world.
So now we have a request. Unlike other news outlets, we haven’t put up a paywall. But as the journalism we do is costly, we invite readers for whom The Times of Israel has become important to help support our work by joining The Times of Israel Community.
For as little as $6 a month you can help support our quality journalism while enjoying The Times of Israel AD-FREE, as well as accessing exclusive content available only to Times of Israel Community members.
Thank you,
David Horovitz, Founding Editor of The Times of Israel
Join Our Community
Join Our Community
Already a member? Sign in to stop seeing this
From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, August 12, 2020
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on Google
