Beirut, Sept. 23 (Petra) - Lebanon would welcome an alternative peacekeeping force if UNIFIL’s mandate expires, President Joseph Aoun said on Wednesday, calling for enforcing UN Resolution 1701 and maintaining state sovereignty along the southern border.

He warned that failing to extend UNIFIL’s mandate without deploying an alternative international force would create a security vacuum, jeopardizing regional stability, particularly as Israeli occupation forces remain in southern border towns and villages.

Aoun accused Israel of failing to abide by the framework agreement reached during Lebanese-US-Israeli negotiations in Washington by destroying homes, bulldozing land along disputed points on the Blue Line, and refusing to return Lebanese detainees.

He warned that Israeli violations continue to fuel southern border tensions, undermining Lebanon's efforts to implement the framework.

//Petra// HA