The U.N. Security Council has extended the mandate of the U.N. peacekeeping force monitoring the Lebanese-Israeli border by another year and called on all parties in the region to abide with the cessation of hostilities and respect the safety of UNIFIL and other U.N. personnel. The council on Thursday also condemned acts that threaten Lebanon's security and stability and reaffirmed its determination to ensure that no such acts will prevent UNIFIL from carrying out its mandate. The 15-country council commended UNIFIL for helping to establish a "new strategic environment in southern Lebanon" and called for further cooperation between the U.N. force and the Lebanese Armed Forces, particularly regarding coordinated and adjacent patrols. The Security Council also urged Israel to expedite the withdrawal of its army from northern Ghajar "without further delay."
