Asarta holds honorary Iftar for Mufti of Tyre

Major General Alberto Asarta, Head of Mission and Force Commander of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), held an honorary Iftar Friday for Mufti of Tyre and Mount Amel, Judge Sheikh Hassan Abdullah, whereby he expressed his appreciation for Lebanon's commitment to implement UN resolution 1701. Triggered by hostile attack launched by Israel on Lebanon in July 2006, UN resolution called for permanent ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel based on creation of a buffer zone free of armed personnel other than UN and Lebanese armed forces. Up to 15,000 United Nations peacekeepers help Lebanese troops take control of the area. In the past 5 years, Lebanon has observed its total commitment to said resolution. However, the Zionist state continued its daily breeches of Lebanese sovereignty, mainly through aerial intrusion. Asarta spoke to his guests, comprised of religious figures as well as UNIFIL officers, expressing his "Full appreciation of Lebanon's continuous fulfillment of resolution 1701," lauding PM Najib Mikati's support for the UNIFIL 's mission. The Major General confirmed that despite recent challenges, the international forces will serve their term till the very end. However, the success of the mission to hand in security responsibilities to the Lebanese army ultimately depended on a political process. "The UNIFIL will never stop doing its best to improve the lives of locals," Asarta promised.