UN extends Lebanon peace force

In its unanimously adopted, French-drafted resolution 1773, the council "Commends the positive role of UNIFIL (the UN force), whose deployment together with the Lebanese Armed Forces has helped to establish a new strategic environment in Southern Lebanon."

It also appealed "to all parties concerned to respect the cessation of hostilities" and the Blue Line which demarcates the Lebanon-Israel border.

The council also urged the need for more progress toward achieving a permanent ceasefire and a long term solution to the border problems under UN guidance.

First deployed in the region in 1978, the 15,000 troops of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon -- 13,500 on land, 1,500 at sea -- now mainly monitor the separation of forces following the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war in Lebanon, help Lebanon's armed forces deploy in the border area, and ensure humanitarian aid reaches civilians.

The mission was extended to August 31, 2008.

The resolution stressed "the need to address the causes of the conflict" along the border, including that kidnapped Israeli soldiers have not been released since Hezbollah and Israel stopped their fighting.

It also urged the Lebanese government to continue asserting control over southern Lebanon to ensure against weapons being moved into the area without the its consent.

The latter point reflects especially US and Israeli complaints that Hezbollah continues to dominate much of the area and receive arms shipments from across the Syrian border.

Deputy US representative to the United Nations Alejandro Wolff said that two recent attacks, one on June 24 against UNIFIL and another on June 17 against Israel, "demonstrate that there are unauthorized armed elements and weapons in South Lebanon and that they pose a danger both to regional stability and the safety of UN personnel."

Speaking to the media, Israel UN Ambassador Dan Gillerman alleged that the arms flow from Syria is open and continuous.

"We urge the international community not to be satisfied just with the technical extension of the UNIFIL mandate, but to see to it that those very very crucial points that endanger not just Israel but the safety, freedom and democracy of Lebanon are resolved as quickly as possible," Gillerman said.

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