BEIRUT, April 12 (Xinhua) -- The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has witnessed a significant increase since last September in activities and coordination with Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), the UNIFIL said Thursday.
"Foot patrols up by nearly 60 percent while joint UNIFIL and LAF activities increased by 34 percent," the UNIFIL said.
It said that the move has been welcomed in enhancing the unprecedented 11 and a half years of stability in south Lebanon.
In 2017, while renewing UNIFIL's mandate under resolution 1701, the Security Council called for an "effective and durable deployment of the LAF" in south Lebanon. It also called for more LAF support and additional joint coordinated activities.
The steady increase took place despite icy conditions and heavy rainfall during December and January.
"In the eight months between August 2017 and March 2018, the daily average number of joint activities with the LAF increased from 49 to 66," the UNIFIL said.
Since the deployment of the Lebanese Army to the UNIFIL in 2006 for the first time in three decades, UN peacekeepers have worked closely with the LAF, which is also the strategic partner of the UN Mission, in keeping peace.
