In LBCI interview, UNIFIL chief says stability in south Lebanon is vital for regional security, praises Lebanese army

In an interview with LBCI, Major General Diodato Abagnara, Head of Mission and Force Commander of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), emphasized that security in South Lebanon is crucial not only for Lebanon and Israel but also for the entire region. 

He stated that, despite recent hostilities, UNIFIL continues to conduct daily patrols and coordinate with the Lebanese Armed Forces to implement Resolution 1701 and maintain stability. 

Abagnara also praised the Lebanese army's cooperation, underscored the importance of UNIFIL's freedom of movement, and called for international support amid financial uncertainty. 

He noted progress in controlling unauthorized weapons but emphasized that a lasting ceasefire depends on both parties.

Full transcript of the LBCI interview:

Bassam Abou Zeid: General Abagnara, this is not your first mission in the UNIFIL, but now you are Force Commander. What is the message for the Lebanese and for the Israelis? 

Diodato Abagnara: Yeah. Thank you, first of all, for your presence here. I was here in 2007 and so now the situation is totally changed, but I can say that with UNIFIL and to achieve our tasks, at the same time, to support Lebanese Armed Forces and to monitor and to report everything, I think that in the future it could be better to think that there is a possible solution for peace and stability. 

I'm sure about that, because the recent hostilities challenged our operation. But at the same time, and I can say that with more than a thousand peacekeepers and with about 50 positions of the U.N., we monitor the situation daily and report everything. 

Because you know very well that the security and the stability in the South of Lebanon is not an important issue for Lebanon and Israel. It's an important issue for the security of the region. Because after 15 months, while we have had a thousand deaths, injuries, and a humanitarian crisis, I think that it's time to restore peace and stability.

Bassam Abou Zeid: What is the status now of the UNIFIL forces following the recent war, the ceasefire agreement, and efforts to implement Resolution 1701?

Diodato Abagnara: Yeah, about Resolution 1701, you know very well that every day we implement our mandate to monitor the situation, at the same time to support Lebanese army forces, to protect civilians, to create the best condition. 

As you know, we are part of a "Mechanism." We are working to facilitate their job. That is another important thing, just to create the best condition for the future. But you know very well that the implementation of Resolution 1701 is a real commitment of both parties, because we are here to monitor and report the situation, and our job is not to fight against Hezbollah, not to disarm that. It's to monitor and report the situation and to create the best condition for peace. 

This is our mandate, and we, every day with more than a thousand soldiers, continue to act for this important task that is in our job. We used to say that we are doing everything necessary to achieve our goals in line with Resolution 1701.

Bassam Abou Zeid: Is the renewal of UNIFIL's mandate an easy process, you think, or will it face challenges, especially if the United States reduces its contribution of the mission's budget?

Diodato Abagnara: It's a very important question, but I don't have a clear answer. Why? Because you know that this is a particular political issue, and we will have a real answer at the end of August by the Security Council, because you know very well that there is a council, with about 15 members, that they use to decide the scope of the mandate and everything. But one thing I would like to underline is that we have had the full support of the Lebanese government, but not only from the Lebanese government, but also from the international community, because our presence, our credibility, our impartiality, I think this is one of the most important key factors just to build peace and security. 

I know very well that financial constraint is always a problem. But you know that in the past, the mission had faced these important issues, and I think that with adaptability, with the flexibility, which became every day more agile, it's possible to achieve our task, but always in implementing Resolution 1701.

Bassam Abou Zeid: What do you think about the solutions for the obstructions against UNIFIL patrols by the supporters of Hezbollah?

Diodato Abagnara: Yes, I was here also as a Sector West commander. And now, I want just to say that we deploy our troops at the request of Lebanese authorities, that have also the responsibility of our security. But you know that this situation is just regarding a clear mandate.

For us, it's very important to monitor and to just control our AOR. Sometimes people on the ground, they used to think that it's necessary to have any kind of activities with the Lebanese Armed Forces. I want just to remark that for us, it's important to have freedom of movement around all our AOR. But we performed a lot of activities with the Lebanese army forces, but also some activities alone. But there is planning and so every time we inform Lebanese army forces about our activity.

Bassam Abou Zeid: You think the Lebanese army forces do a good job with you concerning the protection of UNIFIL patrols?

Diodato Abagnara: I can say that I'm proud of the Lebanese Armed Forces' work. Every day, we used to join with the Lebanese army forces, a lot of activities. I also can say that people on the ground, they love Lebanese army forces, they love UNIFIL troops. 

I want just to remark that their job is outstanding. They are very, very motivated. They used to work strong every day to achieve their objectives, to control the environment, to create security, and for us, it's a very important thing, because one of the most important aspect of our mandate is to support Lebanese army forces. Our task is just to give them any capacity, capability, just to control, to create a secure environment.

Bassam Abou Zeid: As you said, now you are working with the "Mechanism." Now, for you, is it easier to control weapons and munitions here, in this area of operation?

Diodato Abagnara: I think that in this particular moment, we are working with the "Mechanism" just to facilitate their work, their job. But the same time, I think that we are supporting Lebanese army forces also in removing unauthorized weapons. 

It's very important to create the best conditions with all the actors in the south. But at the same time, you know very well that this is also important just to monitor and to control the situation. You know very well that we are doing a very great job with the Lebanese army forces, but at the same time, the implementation of the ceasefire is always a commitment of both parties, and we are here to monitor the situation, but at the same time illegal weapons. To support Lebanese army forces is a task included into our mandate under Resolution 1701.

Bassam Abou Zeid: Do you think the south of the Litani is clear from illegal weapons? 

Diodato Abagnara: I have no clear answer about it, but i can say that this part of land of the Republic of Lebanon is mostly secure now because we are increasing patrols. We are increasing a lot of operational activities with Lebanese army forces. We are increasing all activities to support the people. And so I believe that the future could be better.