00:00UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is calling for a continued UN peacekeeping presence in Lebanon
00:06after this current mission ends later this year,
00:09warning that security conditions have deteriorated sharply since March.
00:14In a letter to the Security Council, Guterres outlined three options for a future force,
00:20ranging from a lighter monitoring mission to a larger peacekeeping presence
00:24with broader de-escalation capabilities.
00:28The proposals envisage between around 2,000 and more than 5,500 personnel
00:34compared with the current 7,500 strong UN force in Lebanon.
00:38The options include unarmed observers and infantry units tasked with monitoring the Blue Line,
00:44the 120-kilometre UN demarcation line between Lebanon, Israel and the Golden Heights.
00:50The recommendations come as tensions remain high in southern Lebanon,
00:54despite a partial ceasefire under which Israel agreed to halt strikes on Beirut
00:59in exchange for Hezbollah stopping attacks on Israel.
01:03Israel has continued strikes in southern Lebanon,
01:05while both sides have accused each other of violating the truce.
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