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UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 30 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council on Tuesday extended the mandate of UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, known as UNIFIL, by another year as ceasefire violations might happen.
In a unanimously adopted resolution, the 15-nation council decided to extend the mandate of UNIFIL until Aug. 31, 2017.
It further urged international support for the Lebanese Armed Forces in areas of counter-terrorism and border protection, and called on all parties to respect the cessation of hostilities.
UNIFIL was originally created by the Security Council in March 1978 to confirm the Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon, restore international peace and security and assist the Lebanese government in restoring its effective authority in the area.
Following the July-August 2006 crisis triggered by the war between Israel and Hezbollah forces in Lebanon, the Security Council enhanced UNIFIL and decided that in addition to its original mandate, UNIFIL would also monitor the cessation of hostilities, accompany and support the Lebanese armed forces as they deploy throughout the south of Lebanon.
