Lebanon calls on UN to renew peacekeepers' mandate

BEIRUT – Lebanon's foreign minister said on Tuesday he supported renewing the mandate of UN peacekeeping forces in the country for another year, amid US and Israeli criticism that the peacekeepers should do more to stop Hezbollah gaining arms.

"Preserving the mandate of @unifil is necessary for peace and stability, otherwise will jeopardize efforts of @UN," Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil said on Twitter.

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) patrols Lebanon's southern border with Israel.