Since taking the helm last month, UNIFIL’s Head of Mission and Force Commander, Major General Stefano Del Col, today chaired his first tripartite meeting with senior delegations from the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) at the UN position in Ras Al Naqoura.

Discussions focused on issues related to the situation along the Blue Line and the optimal use of UNIFIL’s liaison and coordination mechanisms to maintain the prevailing calm in the area south of the Litani river.

Major General Del Col complemented the parties for working through UNIFIL’s tripartite forum and liaison mechanisms, and reiterated the need for timely notification of all activities along the Blue Line to minimize the potential for misunderstandings.

“These efforts have helped to restore calm, mitigate tension and maintain stability,” said Major General Del Col, who assumed the role of UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander on 7 August.

Today’s meeting followed the unanimous adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2433 last week, thereby renewing UNIFIL’s mandate for another year under UN Security Council Resolution 1701.         

Tripartite meetings have been held regularly under the auspices of UNIFIL since the end of the 2006 war in south Lebanon. They have become an essential conflict management and confidence building mechanism between the parties.

UNIFIL currently has around 10,500 peacekeepers who carry out some 14,000 operational activities per month, by day and night, in the area of operations. The mission also has more than 800 civilian staff. UNIFIL is complemented by a six-vessel Maritime Task Force.