German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock demanded the implementation of a United Nations Resolution on Wednesday (January 10) during a visit to Lebanon according to which no armed factions should be present between Lebanon's Litani River and the border with Israel, Reuters reports.
Baerbock told reporters aboard the German UNIFIL frigate Baden-Wuerttemberg that a “de-escalation from all sides” was needed.
“I made clear in Israel but also in Lebanon that we are doing everything we can to implement (U.N.) Resolution 1701 which would enable people in the south of Lebanon and people in the north of Israel living in peace and security.
We need a de-escalation from all sides. Hezbollah must withdraw from the Blue Line (current demarcation line between the two countries). The war in Gaza against Hamas must not be used as a pretext to open up one more frontline and to provoke a regional war. The U.N.’s UNIFIL mission, which is meant to secure this peace, must finally be granted access to the entire region along the Blue Line.
Without these reforms, without these financial reforms we are in a situation where the security too is weakened. As I just heard in my talks here, soldiers are sometimes not getting their wages and if these soldiers are being asked to contribute towards the fight against terrorism, that is hardly possible. So in order to strengthen security here in Lebanon, there must also be a political brief. That was part of my discussions with the prime minister,” Baerbock said.
Since border violence flared, citizens on both sides have fled their homes. In Israel, residents fear Hezbollah fighters could stage a raid similar to the cross-border rampage launched by Hamas fighters on Oct. 7 that sparked the Gaza war.
