Security Council resolution 2539 (2020) [on extension of the mandate of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) until 31 Aug. 2021]
Symbol: S/RES/2539 (2020)
Date: 2020-08-28
Status: adopted
Agenda: S/75 [57] UN INTERIM FORCE IN LEBANON
S/75 [54] MIDDLE EAST SITUATION
S/75 [52] ISRAEL--LEBANON
S/ X The situation in the Middle East.
Subjects: UN Interim Force in Lebanon|Lebanon. Armed Forces|PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS|INTERNAL SECURITY|LEBANON|MIDDLE EAST SITUATION
Votes in favour: 15
Votes against: 0
Abstentions: 0
Voting record:
country: BELGIUM
vote: yes
country: CHINA
vote: yes
country: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
vote: yes
country: ESTONIA
vote: yes
country: FRANCE
vote: yes
country: GERMANY
vote: yes
country: INDONESIA
vote: yes
country: NIGER
vote: yes
country: RUSSIAN FEDERATION
vote: yes
country: SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES
vote: yes
country: SOUTH AFRICA
vote: yes
country: TUNISIA
vote: yes
country: UNITED KINGDOM
vote: yes
country: UNITED STATES
vote: yes
country: VIET NAM
vote: yes

               United Nations                                                                   S/RES/2539 (2020)
               Security Council                                                 Distr.: General
                                                                                28 August 2020




               Resolution 2539 (2020)
               Adopted by the Security Council on 28 August 2020

                    The Security Council,
                     Recalling all its previous resolutions on Lebanon, in particular resolutions 425
               (1978), 426 (1978), 1559 (2004), 1680 (2006), 1701 (2006), 1773 (2007), 1832
               (2008), 1884 (2009), 1937 (2010) and 2004 (2011), 2064 (2012), 2115 (2013), 2172
               (2014) and 2236 (2015), 2305 (2016), 2373 (2017), 2433 (2018) and 2485 (2019) as
               well as the statements of its President on the situation in Lebanon and the Press
               statements dated 19 December 2016, 27 March 2018, 9 August 2018, 8 February
               2019,
                    Expressing its solidarity with Lebanon and its people in the aftermath of the
               explosions which struck Beirut on 4 August 2020, causing a significant number of
               casualties and wounding thousands of people, including some UNIFIL personnel, and
               causing severe damages to commercial and residential infrastructures as well as to
               UNIFIL capacities, and welcoming the International Conference on Assistance and
               Support to Lebanon and Beirut, organized on the 9 August 2020 by France and the
               United Nations, further calling the international community to reinforce its support
               to Lebanon and its people in that context,
                    Calling for the swift formation of a new Government which can respond to the
               needs and aspirations of the Lebanese population and the current main challenges
               Lebanon is facing, in particular the reconstruction of Beirut and the reforms,
               absolutely necessary to overcome and recover from the current and unprecedented
               acute social and economic crisis,
                     Taking due note of the approval, by the Government of Lebanon, of an economic
               plan as well as of its decision to request an IMF program, stressing the urgent need
               for the Lebanese authorities to respond to the aspirations of the Lebanese people by
               implementing meaningful economic reforms, and notably the commitments made in
               the framework of the CEDRE conference as well as at the International Support Group
               for Lebanon meeting held in Paris on the 11 December 2019 and reiterating, on the
               basis of those necessary reforms, support to Lebanon to help it exit the current c risis
               and to address the economic, security, humanitarian challenges, as well as the impact
               of COVID-19 facing the country, and called upon the international community,
               including international organizations, to do so,
                     Commending UNIFIL for the preventive measures taken to fight the COVID-19
               pandemic and recalling resolution 2532 and its request to the Secretary-General to
               instruct peace-keeping operations to provide support, within their mandates and



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               capacities, to host country authorities in their efforts to contain the pandemic, in
               particular to facilitate humanitarian access, including to internally displaced persons
               and refugee camps and allow for medical evacuations, as well as its request to the
               Secretary-General and Member States to take all appropriate steps to protect the
               safety, security and health of all UN personnel in UN peace operations, while
               maintaining the continuity of operations, and to take further steps towards the
               provision of training for peacekeeping personnel on issues related to pre venting the
               spread of COVID-19,
                     Responding to the request of the Government of Lebanon to extend the mandate
               of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) for a period of one year
               without amendment presented in a letter from the Lebanese Foreign Minister to the
               Secretary-General of 2 June 2020 and welcoming the letter from the Secretary -
               General to its President of 29 July 2020 (S/2020/760) recommending this extension,
                     Reiterating its strong support for the territorial integrity, sovereignty and
               political independence of Lebanon,
                     Reaffirming its commitment to the full implementation of all provisions of
               resolution 1701 (2006), and aware of its responsibilities to help secure a permanent
               ceasefire and a long-term solution as envisioned in the resolution,
                     Expressing deep concern at the continued lack of progress made towards the
               establishment of a permanent ceasefire and other key provisions of r esolution 1701
               (2006) fourteen years after its adoption,
                    Calling upon all concerned parties to strengthen their efforts, including by
               exploring concrete solutions with the Special Coordinator of the Secretary-General
               and the UNIFIL Force Commander, to fully implement all provisions of resolution
               1701 (2006) without delay,
                    Expressing deep concern at all violations, both by air and ground, in connection
               with resolution 1701 (2006) as underlined by the Secretary-General in his reports,
               and recalling the importance of control of the Government of Lebanon over all
               Lebanese territory,
                    Underlining the risk that violations of the cessation of hostilities could lead to
               a new conflict that none of the parties or the region can afford,
                     Urging all parties to make every effort to ensure that the cessation of hostilities
               is sustained, exercise maximum calm and restraint and refrain from any action or
               rhetoric that could jeopardize the cessation of hostilities or destabilize the region,
                     Condemning the incidents of August-September 2019 and of the 14 April 2020
               of 17 April 2020, and of 27 July 2020 which occurred across the Blue line, calling on
               the parties to resort to the Tripartite Mechanism when such incidents occur, and
               further commending the liaison and prevention role played by UNIFIL allowing for
               de-escalation,
                    Emphasizing to all parties the importance of full compliance with the
               prohibition on sales and supply of arms and related materiel established by resolution
               1701 (2006),
                      Recalling the utmost importance that all parties concerned respect the Blue Line
               in its entirety, noting with great and increasing concern that UNIFIL still has not been
               able to access all relevant locations north of the Blue Line related to the discovery of
               tunnels crossing the Blue Line which UNIFIL reported as a violation of resolution
               1701 (2006), and urging the Lebanese authorities to urgently conclude all necessary
               investigations on the matter, in line with resolution 1701 (2006),



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                Welcoming the continued progress in the marking of the Blue Line, and
           encouraging the parties to accelerate their efforts in coordination with UNIFIL,
           including through the tripartite mechanism, to continue working in the ongoing
           process to delineate and visibly mark the Blue Line in its entirety, as well as to move
           forward on the marking of its points of contention, as recommended by the Strategic
           Review,
                 Condemning in the strongest terms all attempts to threaten the security and
           stability of Lebanon,
                 Reaffirming its determination to ensure that no such acts of intimidation prevent
           UNIFIL from implementing its mandate in accordance with Security Council
           resolution 1701 (2006), recalling the necessity for all parties to ensure that UNIFIL
           personnel are secure and their freedom of movement is fully respected and unimpeded
           and continues to respect the separate, supporting mandate under which Observer
           Group Lebanon operates, condemning in the strongest terms all attacks against
           peacekeepers, including the attacks against UNIFIL forces on 4 August 201 8 near the
           town of Majdal Zun, on 25 May 2020 in the town of Belida Southern Lebanon, and
           on the 10 February 2020, in Brashit,
                 Urging the Lebanese authorities to swiftly provide UNIFIL with further updates
           and finalise investigations on this matter,
                Reiterating the importance of the extension of the control of the Government of
           Lebanon over all Lebanese territory in accordance with the provisions of resolution
           1559 (2004) and resolution 1680 (2006), and of the relevant provisions of the Taif
           Accords,
                 Encouraging all Lebanese parties to resume discussions towards a consensus on
           a National Defence Strategy as set out by the President of Lebanon a nd the Lebanese
           Defense Minister on 29 April 2019, in accordance with relevant Security Council
           resolutions and the Taif Agreement,
                  Welcoming Lebanon’s first National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security,
           and encouraging the Government of Lebanon to fully implement it, with the support
           of UNIFIL and women’s civil society groups, as soon as possible and to ensure the
           full, effective, and meaningful participation of women at all levels of decision -making
           in all efforts for the maintenance and promotion of peace and security,
                Recalling the importance of ensuring the protection of children and taking
           appropriate measures in this regard, in line with relevant Security Council resolutions
           on Children and armed conflict,
                Recalling the relevant principles contained in the Convention on the Safety of
           United Nations and Associated Personnel,
                Commending the active role and dedication of the personnel of UNIFIL and
           expressing its strong appreciation to Member States that contribute to UNIFIL and
           underlining the necessity that UNIFIL has at its disposal all necessary means and
           equipment to carry out its mandate,
                 Recalling the request from the Government of Lebanon to deploy an
           international force to assist it to exercise its authority throughout the territory, and
           reaffirming UNIFIL’s authority to take all necessary action in areas of operations of
           its forces and as it deems within its capabilities, to ensure that its area of operations
           is not utilized for hostile activities of any kind and to resist attempts by fo rceful means
           to prevent it from discharging its mandate,
                Welcoming the crucial role played by the Lebanese Armed Forces and security
           forces, as the only legitimate armed forces in Lebanon, in extending and sustaining

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               the authority of the Government of Lebanon, in particular in southern Lebanon, and
               responding to other security challenges, including the threat of terrorism, and the
               strong international commitment to support the Lebanese Armed Forces, which has
               helped strengthen the capability of the Lebanese Armed Forces to provide security
               for Lebanon, urging further international support to the Lebanese Armed Forces in
               the context of the current economic crisis, and further noting the relevance of this
               increased capacity in relation to their efforts to coo rdinate with UNIFIL in the
               implementation of the UNIFIL mandate,
                     Recalling resolution 2378 (2017) and its request of the Secretary-General to
               ensure that data related to the effectiveness of peacekeeping operations, including
               peacekeeping performance data, is used to improve analytics and the evaluation of
               mission operations, based on clear and well identified benchmarks, further recalling
               resolution 2436 (2018) and its request of the Secretary-General to ensure that
               decisions to recognize and incentivize outstanding performance and decisions
               regarding deployment, remediation, training, withholding of financial
               reimbursement, and repatriation of uniformed or dismissal of civilian personnel, are
               predicated on objective performance data, and emphasizing the need to regularly
               evaluate UNIFIL’s performance such that the mission retains the skills and flexibility
               needed to effectively carry out its mandate,
                     Also recalling resolution 2242 (2015) and its request of the Secretary-General
               to initiate, in collaboration with Member States, a revised strategy, within existing
               resources, to double the number of women in military and police contingents of UN
               peacekeeping operations,
                     Emphasizing the need to regularly review all peacekeeping operations to ensure
               efficiency and effectiveness, including reviews of UNIFIL when appropriate, taking
               into account developments on the ground,
                     Bearing in mind the strategic priorities and recommendations identified by the
               Secretary-General in his letter of 12 March 2012 (S/2012/151) as a result of the
               Strategic Review of UNIFIL, taking note of his letter of 8 March 2017 (S/2017/202)
               as a result of the most recent Strategic Review of UNIFIL, and expressing the need
               for a follow-up and update,
                     Welcoming the Secretary-General’s 1 June 2020 Assessment of UNIFIL and
               noting with appreciation the recommendations to further increase the efficiency and
               effectiveness of UNIFIL,
                    Calling upon Member States to assist the Lebanese Armed Forces as needed to
               enable it to perform its duties in line with resolution 1701 (2006),
                     Determining that the situation in Lebanon continues to constitute a threat to
               international peace and security,
                    1.    Decides to extend the present mandate of UNIFIL until 31 August 2021;
                     2.   Commends the positive role of UNIFIL, whose deployment together with
               the Lebanese Armed Forces has helped to establish a new strategic environment in
               southern Lebanon, welcomes the expansion of coordinated activities between UNIFIL
               and the Lebanese Armed Forces, and calls for further enhancement of this cooperation
               without prejudice to UNIFIL’s mandate;
                    3.     Affirms its strong continuing commitment to the existing UNIFIL mandate
               and calls for the full implementation of resolution 1701 (2006);
                     4.    Reiterates its call for Israel and Lebanon to support a permanent ceasefire
               and a long-term solution based on the principles and elements set out in paragraph 8
               of resolution 1701 (2006);


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                 5.   Strongly reaffirms the necessity of an effective and durable deployment of
           the Lebanese Armed Forces in southern Lebanon and the territorial waters of Lebanon
           at an accelerated pace to fully implement the provisions of resolution 1701 (2006)
           and requests the Secretary-General to include in his future reports assessments of
           progress made in this regard and calls for renewed engagement of UNIFIL and the
           Lebanese Armed Forces in the Strategic Dialogue, which aims at carryin g out analysis
           of ground forces and maritime assets and setting a series of benchmarks reflecting the
           correlation between the capacities and responsibilities of UNIFIL vis -à-vis those of
           the Lebanese Armed Forces;
                6.    Recalls its request for precise timelines to be jointly and promptly
           elaborated by the Lebanese Armed Forces and the Secretary-General, for the
           deployments in paragraph 5, with a view to identifying Lebanese Armed Forces
           progress in implementing tasks mandated in resolution 1701 (2006);
                 7.    Reiterates its call for the Government of Lebanon to present a plan to
           increase its naval capabilities as soon as possible, including with appropriate support
           from the international community, with the goal of ultimately decreasing UNIFIL’s
           Maritime Taskforce and transitioning its responsibilities to the Lebanese Armed
           Forces (LAF), in close conjunction with the effective build -up of the capabilities of
           the Lebanese Navy, takes note in that regard of the letter dated 12 March 2019 to the
           United Nations outlining the commitment of the Government of Lebanon and
           welcomes its ongoing efforts towards that goal; takes note of the impact of the Beirut
           explosions on 4 August 2020 on the operations of the LAF and t he postponement of
           its advanced joint exercise with UNIFIL;
                 8.   Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General on the assessment of the
           continued relevance of UNIFIL’s resources and options for improving the efficiency
           and effectiveness between UNIFIL and UNSCOL, taking into consideration the troop
           ceiling and the civilian component of UNIFIL (S/2020/473) and requests the
           Secretary-General to elaborate a detailed plan, with timelines and specific modalities,
           in full and close consultation with the parties, including Lebanon, the troop -
           contributing countries and the Members of the Security Council, to impl ement
           recommendations, as appropriate, and further requests him to present the first
           elements of that plan to the Security Council within 60 days after the adoption of the
           present resolution;
                 9.   Reiterates its encouragement of the intention of the Government of
           Lebanon to deploy a model regiment and an offshore patrol vessel in UNIFIL’s area
           of operations to advance the implementation of resolution 1701 (2006) and the
           authority of the Lebanese State, recalls in this regard the joint statement issued at the
           end of the 15 March 2018 Rome Conference, in particular Lebanon’s concept for a
           new Model Regiment proposed in the context of the ongoing Strategic Dialogue
           between the LAF and UNIFIL, notes Lebanon’s proposed timeline for the deployment
           of the Model Regiment, and calls on the Lebanese Armed Forces and UNIFIL to
           strengthen their coordinated actions;
                 10. Urges further international support for the Lebanese Armed Forces and all
           state security institutions, which are the only legitimate armed forces of Lebanon, in
           response to the capabilities development plan of the Lebanese Armed Forces, as well
           as in the framework of the International Support Group for Lebanon, through
           additional and expedited assistance in areas where the Lebanese Armed Forces are
           most critically in need of support, including counter-terrorism, border protection and
           naval capacity;
                11. Condemns all violations of the Blue Line, both by air and ground, and
           strongly calls upon all parties to respect the cessation of hostilities, to prevent any


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               violation of the Blue Line and to respect it in its entirety, and to cooperate fully with
               the United Nations and UNIFIL;
                     12. Welcomes the constructive role played by the Tripartite Mechanism in
               facilitating coordination and in de-escalating tensions, and recognizes the mission
               leadership’s active efforts, which has helped to further stabilize the situation along
               the Blue Line and build trust between the parties, expresses in this regard strong
               support for the continued efforts of UNIFIL to engage with both parties to facilitate
               liaison, coordination, and practical arrangements on the ground and to continue to
               ensure that the Tripartite Mechanism enables the parties to discuss a wider range of
               issues, and encourages UNIFIL, in close coordination with the parties, to implement
               measures to further reinforce the capacities of the Tripartite mechanism, including the
               creation of additional ad hoc sub-committees, as recommended in the assessment
               report of the Secretary-General;
                    13. Stresses the need to foster enhanced cooperation between UNIFIL and the
               Office of the United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon (UNSCOL), with the
               goal of improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the missions, welcomes in this
               regard the improvements accomplished by the United Nations in terms of efficiencies
               and effectiveness between UNIFIL and UNSCOL and encourages the Secretary-General to further these efforts;
                     14. Urges all parties to abide scrupulously by their obligation to respect the
               safety of UNIFIL and other United Nations personnel and reiterates its call for closer
               cooperation between UNIFIL and the Lebanese Armed Forces in particular regarding
               coordinated and adjacent patrols, welcomes the commitment of t he Lebanese
               authorities to protect UNIFIL movements and reiterates its call for the rapid
               finalization of the investigation launched by Lebanon regarding all attacks against
               UNIFIL and its personnel, in particular the incidents of 4 August 2018, and the 10 th
               of February 2020, in order to bring to justice the perpetrators of these attacks; and
               requests the Secretary-General to report to the Council, within a reasonable
               timeframe, when such incidents occur as well as, when appropriate, on the follow -up
               of the related pending investigations;
                     15. Urges all parties to ensure that the freedom of movement of UNIFIL and
               UNIFIL’s access to the Blue Line in all its parts is fully respected and unimpeded, in
               conformity with its mandate and its rules of engagement, inc luding by avoiding any
               course of action which endangers United Nations personnel, condemns in the
               strongest terms all attempts to restrict the freedom of movement of UNIFIL’s
               personnel and all attacks on UNIFIL personnel and equipment; calls on the
               Government of Lebanon to facilitate UNIFIL’s prompt and full access to sites
               requested by UNIFIL for the purpose of swift investigation, including all relevant
               locations north of the Blue Line related to the discovery of tunnels crossing the Blue
               Line which UNIFIL reported as a violation of resolution 1701 (2006), in line with
               resolution 1701, while respecting the Lebanese Sovereignty;
                   16. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to take all appropriate
               measures to review and enhance the safety and security of peacekeeping personnel of
               UNIFIL, in line with resolution 2518 (2020);
                     17. Urges all parties to cooperate fully with the Security Council and th e
               Secretary-General to make tangible progress towards a permanent ceasefire and a
               long-term solution as envisioned in resolution 1701 (2006) and on all outstanding
               issues in the implementation of Security Council resolutions 1701 (2006), 1680
               (2006) and 1559 (2004), and other relevant Security Council resolutions;




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                 18. Urges the Government of Israel to expedite the withdrawal of its army
           from northern Ghajar without further delay in coordination with UNIFIL, which has
           actively engaged Israel and Lebanon to facilitate such a withdrawal;
                 19. Reaffirms its call on all States to fully support and respect the
           establishment between the Blue Line and the Litani River of an area free of any armed
           personnel, assets and weapons other than those of the Government of Lebanon and
           UNIFIL;
                  20. Recalls paragraph 15 of resolution 1701 (2006) according to which all
           States shall take the necessary measures to prevent, by their nationals or from their
           territories or using flag vessels or aircraft, the sale or supply of arms and related
           materiel to any entity or individual in Lebanon other than those authorized by the
           Government of Lebanon or UNIFIL;
                  21. Acting in support of a request from the Government of Lebanon to deploy
           an international force to assist it to exercise its authority throughout the territory,
           recalls its authorization to UNIFIL to take all necessary action in areas of deployment
           of its forces and as it deems within its capabilities, to ensure that its area of operations
           is not utilized for hostile activities of any kind, to resist attempts by forceful means
           to prevent it from discharging its duties under the mandate of the Security Council,
           and to protect United Nations personnel, facilities, installations and equipment,
           ensure the security and freedom of movement of United Nations personnel,
           humanitarian workers and, without prejudice to the responsibility of the Government
           of Lebanon, to protect civilians under imminent threat of physical violence;
                 22. Commends UNIFIL’s operational changes in line with resolution 2373
           (2017) and resolution 2433 (2018) and reiterates its request that the Secretary-General look at ways to enhance UNIFIL’s efforts as regards paragraph 12 of
           resolution 1701 (2006) and paragraph 14 of this resolution, including ways to increase
           UNIFIL’s visible presence, including through patrols and inspections, within its
           existing mandate and capabilities;
                 23. Recalls the decision that UNIFIL shall assist the government of Lebanon,
           at its request, as set out in paragraph 14 of resolution 1701 (2006) and within its
           capabilities, to implement resolution 1701 (2006);
                 24. Welcomes the efforts being undertaken by UNIFIL to implement the
           Secretary-General’s zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse and to
           ensure full compliance of its personnel with the United Nations code of conduct,
           requests the Secretary-General to continue to take necessary measures to ensure full
           compliance of all personnel, civilian and uniformed, in UNIFIL with the United
           Nations zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse and to keep the
           Security Council fully informed about the Mission’s progress in this regard, stresses
           the need to prevent such exploitation and abuse and to improve how allegations are
           addressed in line with its resolution 2272 (2016), and urges troop-contributing
           countries to continue taking appropriate preventative action, including vetting of all
           personnel, pre-deployment and in-mission awareness training, and to take appropriate
           steps to ensure full accountability in cases of such conduct involving their personnel,
           including through timely investigations of allegations, as appropriate, and to hold
           perpetrators accountable and repatriate units when there is credible evidence of
           widespread or systemic sexual exploitation and abuse by those units;
                 25. Welcomes the initiatives undertaken by the Secretary-General to
           standardize a culture of performance in UN peacekeeping, recalls its requests in
           resolution 2378 (2017) and resolution 2436 (2018) that the Secretary-General ensure
           that performance data related to the effectiveness of peacekeeping operations is used
           to improve mission operations, including decisions such as those rega rding

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               deployment, remediation, repatriation and incentives, and reaffirms its support for the
               development of a comprehensive and integrated performance policy framework that
               identifies clear standards of performance for evaluating all United Nations civili an
               and uniformed personnel working in and supporting peacekeeping operations that
               facilitates effective and full implementation of mandates, and includes comprehensive
               and objective methodologies based on clear and well-defined benchmarks to ensure
               accountability for underperformance and incentives and recognition for outstanding
               performance, and calls on the United Nations to apply this framework to UNIFIL as
               described in resolution 2436 (2018); notes the efforts of the Secretary-General to
               develop a comprehensive performance assessment system to help troop contributing
               countries meet United Nations performance standards and requests the Secretary-General and the troop-contributing countries to seek to increase the number of women
               in UNIFIL, as well as to ensure the full, effective and meaningful participation of
               women in all aspects of operations;
                    26. Requests UNIFIL to take fully into account gender considerations as a
               cross-cutting issue throughout its mandate and to assist the Lebanese authorities in
               ensuring the full, effective and meaningful participation, involvement and
               representation of women at all levels of decision -making in all efforts for the
               maintenance and promotion of peace and security, as well as to support the
               implementation of the action plan on Women and Peace and Security, including to
               prevent and respond to sexual and gender based violence, further requests enhanced
               reporting by UNIFIL to the Security Council on this issue;
                     27. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to report to the Council on the
               implementation of resolution 1701 (2006), every four months, or at any time as he
               deems appropriate, and to include in his reporting a prompt and detailed breakdown
               of all resolution 1701 (2006) violations, clarifications by the parties and updates on
               all pending investigations into such violations of resolution 1701, prompt a nd detailed
               reports on violations of the sovereignty of Lebanon, prompt and detailed reports on
               the restrictions to UNIFIL’s freedom of movement, an enhanced annex on the
               implementation on the arms embargo, reports on specific areas where UNIFIL does
               not access and on the reasons behind these restrictions, potential risks to the cessation
               of hostilities and UNIFIL’s response as well as reports on the implementation of the
               recommendations of the 2016–2017 Strategic review and on progress made as regards
               the detailed plan on the implementation of the 1 June assessment report as set out in
               paragraph 8 of the present resolution and on additional identified efficiencies to most
               appropriately fulfil its mandated tasks; requests the Secretary-General to continue to
               provide concrete and detailed information on the aforementioned issues to the
               Council, in line with changes to enhance reporting since the adoption of resolution
               2373 (2017), 2433 (2018) and 2485 (2019);
                    28. Authorizes UNIFIL, without prejudice to the implementation of its
               mandate and within existing resources, to take temporary and special measures to
               provide support to Lebanon and its people in the aftermath of the explosions that
               occurred in the port of Beirut on 4 August 2020; requests the Secretary-General to
               conduct an assessment of the impact of those explosions on UNIFIL personnel,
               capacities and operations, together with recommendations to address such impact,
               with a view to maintain continuity and effectiveness of UNIFIL’s operations;
                     29. Recognizing that UNIFIL has successfully implemented its mandate since
               2006 and has allowed for maintaining peace and security since then, decides to
               authorize the reduction of the troop-ceiling set out in OP11 of resolution 1701 from
               15, 000 authorized troops to 13, 000 troops, without prejudice to the possibility for
               the force strength to be increased in the future in case a degraded security situation
               requires such increase for the implementation of resolutions 425 (1978), 426 (1978)
               and 1701 (2006);

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                 30. Stresses the importance of, and the need to achieve, a comprehensive, just
           and lasting peace in the Middle East, based on all its relevant resolutions including
           its resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967, 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973,
           1515 (2003) of 19 November 2003 and 1850 (2008) of 16 December 2008;
                31.   Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.




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