Wetin dey happen for Lebanon sef? E be like say UN troop dem go soon start to pack their bags as dem don announce say dem go withdraw most of their soldiers come mid-2027. Na so UN spokesperson talk am for news wey dem drop.
Dem dey call these people wey dey work under United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) peacekeepers, and dem don dey dey for decades dey try settle wahala between Israel and Lebanon. E don tey wey dem dey help Lebanese army dismantle Hezbollah wahala near Israel border, especially after the recent fight wey dem get.
Pressure no go let the matter rest as US and Israel don pressure UN Security Council to end any mandate wey dey cover UNIFIL by December 31, 2026, so na early next year wey dem go begin the drawdown. Na wetin Kandice Ardiel wey be spokesperson for UNIFIL talk, say dem go withdraw most of the troops before end of 2027.
Biko, if you understand this kind thing, after dem finish their operations for December 31, 2026, dem go start to send back personnel and equipment go their home countries while dem go hand over their positions to Lebanese authorities. E mean say, during this withdrawal process, dem go fit only do limited things like protect UN personnel and safe bases.
Even with ceasefire arrangement wey dem achieve in November 2024 after plenty wahala with Hezbollah, Israel still dey strike Lebanon, claiming say na Hezbollah dem dey target. Dem still maintain troops for five border areas, as wahala still dey continue.
UNIFIL dey patrol border areas and dem dey monitor violations wey dey happen according to the UN resolution wey end the 2006 war. But as things dey be now, dem don report say Israeli fire don disturb their personnel since ceasefire start. Ardiel even talk say dem don reduce peacekeepers wey dey south Lebanon by almost 2,000 recent months, with a few more expected to gree go by May.
As e be now, dem don get about 7,500 peacekeepers wey dey represent 48 countries. But this matter wey dem dey reduce troop numbers, na because of the financial issue wey dey affect the entire UN, and e no get anything to do with the end of UNIFIL mandate.
Meanwhile, Lebanese authorities dey push make dem continue to get international troop presence for the south after UNIFIL comot. E go good make other countries keep people for there small-small. Recently, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot talk say Lebanese army suppose take over when UNIFIL finish their work.
Italy sef don talk say dem go dey maintain military presence for Lebanon even as UNIFIL dey comot. Na as e be, we go dey watch as this gbege dey unfold!
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