Tenetti: Media reports linking UNIFIL to Beirut Port explosion contain unfounded allegations

3^min

United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon spokesperson Andrea Tenetti said on Wednesday that media reports linking the UNIFIL to the Beirut Port explosion contained unfounded allegations and ignored UNIFIL's mandate and the way in which its maritime task forces operate.

Tenetti’s comments were made to the Lebanese state-run National News Agency whereby he stressed that the UNIFIL has been deployed at the request of the government of Lebanon to carry out very particular tasks in support of the Lebanese authorities.

“The nature of this assistance is clearly defined by the Lebanese authorities which retain the sovereign right and related responsibility to secure their maritime borders,” he explained.

Tenetti also noted that the role of the UNIFIL Maritime Task Force (MTF) is alerting ships approaching Lebanon’s shores and referring any suspicious ones to the Lebanese authorities, which is the party responsible for inspecting these ships independently.

He explained that the UNIFIL cannot board any ship and conduct a physical inspection of it in Lebanese territorial waters, unless specifically requested by the Lebanese authorities.

"UNIFIL Maritime Task Force is likewise not responsible for authorizing entry to Lebanese ports. This matter, once again, is the sovereign right of the Lebanese authorities,” he went on saying.

Tenetti explained that the UNIFIL does not intervene after the ship is referred to the Lebanese authorities, “unless they request any additional assistance within the scope of UNIFIL's mandate.”

“With regard to the explosion of Beirut Port and due to the ongoing judicial investigation, it would not be appropriate for UNIFIL to comment on this particular matter,” he added.

However, Tentti noted that the UNIFIL fully cooperates with the Lebanese judicial authorities and has provided them with all the assistance required within its mandate. In this context.

“Some of the accusations leveled in media outlets misinterpret the way UNIFIL operates," he added.

Tenenti called on all parties concerned to stop baseless and misleading speculations about “this serious and tragic issue.”