NNA - In a special statement to the National News Agency, UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti said, “Today, at approximately 2:00 p.m., a UNIFIL patrol was stopped by more than 50 local civilians in the vicinity of Sultaniyeh, northwest of Tibnin.”

He added, “The crowd was hostile, but no weapons were observed. The patrol commander was able to de-escalate the situation, and the peacekeepers, after coordinating with the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), returned safely to their base.”

“Freedom of movement is a core requirement for the implementation of UNIFIL’s mandate. This includes the ability to operate independently and impartially, as outlined in UN Security Council Resolution 1701. Any restriction of this freedom — whether UNIFIL is conducting operations with or without the LAF — constitutes a violation of that resolution,” stressed Tenenti.

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