UN peacekeeping chief warns of escalation threat, as Lebanon seeks UN buffer after UNIFIL departs

INTELLIGENCE SUMMARY

BEIRUT: Lebanese leaders want UN peacekeepers to remain in their country to serve as a third-party buffer between Israeli and Lebanese forces after the mandate for the existing UN Interim Force in Lebanon expires, the UN’s under-secretary-general for peace operations said on Friday. As he concluded a three-day visit to Lebanon, less than three months before UNIFIL operations are due to end, Jean-Pierre Lacroix warned that incidents along the Blue Line, the UN-designated line of withdrawal separa