In the preamble of the resolution, the council announced that it had examined the report by the UNIIIC into the bombing in Beirut which killed Hariri and 22 others. The Lebanese authorities were praised for the full co-operation they had given to the inquiry, which had not yet completed its investigation. It was also necessary to continue investigations outside the country, and the Council acknowledged a request from Lebanon to extend the mandate of the UNIIIC. At the same time, it was also recognised that international assistance would be required to establish the truth and hold those responsible for the attack.