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UN mission in Lebanon welcomes Beirut's commitment to resolution 1701

Xinhua, February 3, 2015 Adjust font size:

A UN mission in Lebanon welcomed on Monday Beirut's commitment to a UN resolution that calls for the needs to prevent further escalation of tensions in the south.

Major-General Luciano Portolano, head of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), made the remarks after meeting with Lebanese Prime Minister Tammam Salam.

"I shared my concerns regarding the recent incidents in UNIFIL's Area of Operations, which resulted in the tragic death of a Spanish peacekeeper and increased the tension in the area," he said.

"There is an urgent need to prevent escalation of the situation, which could potentially undermine the peace and security which we achieved and maintained since 2006," he added.

Hezbollah, a Shiite militant group, claimed responsibility for attacking an Israeli convoy in the occupied Shebaa Farms, killing two Israeli soldiers.

In retaliation, Israel pounded south Lebanon with around 200 mortar shells, which led to the death of Corporal Francisco Javier Soria Toledo of the Spanish regiment with the UNIFIL.

The UNIFIL will stay focused on its mission to fulfill the mandate under the UN Security Council resolution 1701 together with the Lebanese Armed Forces, said the mission head. Endit