MOSCOW, April 24 (Bernama-Sputnik/RIA Novosti) -- The European Union is considering sending its own mission to southern Lebanon once the United Nations' peacekeeping mission completes its mandate, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Friday, reported Sputnik/RIA Novosti.
"We know that the UNIFIL [UN Interim Force in Lebanon] mission is ending and it's clear that Lebanese armed forces need more help to also disarm Hezbollah and have control over the country, and we have been discussing with the foreign ministers — as well as the defence ministers — whether we are able to put our own mission together once UNIFIL ends — but not with the same mandate — to really address the needs that they have," Kallas said ahead of the second day of the informal EU summit in Cyprus.
The escalation of the conflict between Israel and Lebanon began on March 2 against the backdrop of US and Israeli strikes on Iran. On March 16, Israel launched a ground operation in southern Lebanon, striking Lebanese cities, including the capital.
-- BERNAMA-SPUTNIK/RIA NOVOSTI
