Special to WorldTribune.com

NICOSIA — The United Nations is bracing for a withdrawal by European Union peacekeepers from Lebanon.

The UN Interim Force in Lebanon has been consulting with EU states on the prospect of an imminent withdrawal from Lebanon.

EU contingents from France and Italy, which have an ordered an evacuation of its diplomatic staff, comprise more than 30 percent of the 13,500-member force in southern Lebanon.

“UNIFIL will not leave the south even if there is an escalation,” UNIFIL spokesman Andrea Tenenti said.

Officials said UNIFIL was concerned over the prospect of an immediate withdrawal of its Western contingents. They cited the deployment of an Italian Navy ship near Lebanon to collect diplomats and other staffers. Italy has contributed 1,100 soldiers to UNIFIL.

In an interview with the Lebanese daily Al Mustaqbal on Sept. 8, Tenenti said the prospect of a U.S. attack on neighboring Syria would not hamper UNIFIL. He said the peacekeeping force has not revised operations or the rules of engagement near the Lebanese border with Israel.

“We have not changed security measures,” Tenenti said.

But Lebanese sources said UNIFIL was reviewing plans for an evacuation.
On Sept. 7, Lebanese diplomats told the Beirut-based A-Safir that UNIFIL
was preparing to pull out the dependents of staffers.

On Sept. 6, the United States ordered the evacuation of non-emergency
staffers in Beirut. The State Department said it was expecting attacks on
diplomatic and other U.S. installations in the region.

“Given the current tensions in the region, as well as potential threats
to U.S. government facilities and personnel, we are taking these steps out
of an abundance of caution to protect our employees and their families, and
local employees and visitors to our facilities,” the State Department said.
“We will continue to assess the situation and to adjust our security posture
accordingly.”

  Andrea Tenenti, Beirut, European Union, Italy, Out of Lebanon: UN faces imminent pullout of EU peacekeepers, UNIFIL