The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon observed on Monday the International Day of U.N. Peacekeepers, paying tribute to thousands of military and civilian personnel for their service of peace, in a ceremony held at its Naqoura Headquarters in southern Lebanon.

UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander, Major-General Luciano Portolano, underlined that for more than 70 years, since 1948 when the first Peacekeeping Mission was established “U.N. peacekeeping has been a dedicated and internationally recognized instrument aimed at supporting countries around the world in the difficult transition from conflict to peace.”

The Head of Mission and Force Commander of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, Major General Luciano Portolano held talks on Thursday with Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri and the Army Commander, General Jean Qahwaji, said UNIFIL in a statement.

Portolano briefed the speaker on the situation along the Blue Line and UNIFIL’s engagement with the people of South Lebanon in efforts, together with Lebanese army, to maintain security and stability in the area within the framework of U.N. Security Council resolution 1701.

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon visited the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) on Thursday where he was received by UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander Major General Luciano Portolano, announced the international force in a statement.

Speaking during his visit to the headquarters of UNIFIL, on the first day of his two-day tour of the country, the secretary general noted that southern Lebanon has seen one of the quietest periods in nearly four decades since the adoption of the U.N. Security Council resolution 1701 in 2006.

U.S. Chargé d’Affaires ad interim Ambassador Richard Jones toured on Thursday the Blue Line area that marks the border between Lebanon and Israel, announced the U.S. embassy in a statement.

He met with United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon Commander Major General Luciano Portolano for a briefing at the U.N. Headquarters in Naqoura in the South.

United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon commander Major General Luciano Portolano held talks on Tuesday with each of Speaker Nabih Berri, Prime Minister Tammam Salam and Minister of Interior Nouhad al-Mashnouq on the latest developments in southern Lebanon.

He briefed them on the continued efforts of UNIFIL to maintain the calm that has returned along the Blue Line since the serious breach of the cessation of hostilities that occurred on 4 January, said a UNIFIL statement.

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) donated on Wednesday a number of U.N.-owned information-technology equipment to the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and the General Security Directorate at a ceremony held at its headquarters in Naqoura, South Lebanon, announced UNIFIL on a statement on Thursday.

The event was attended by UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander Major General Luciano Portolano, Deputy Head of Mission Imran Riza, Deputy Force Commander Brigadier General Sandeep Singh Bajaj, Director of Mission Support Wolfgang Weiszegger, LAF South Litany Sector Commander Brigadier General Charbel Abou Khalil, LAF Intelligence Chief (Southern region) Brigadier General Khodr Hammoud and Lieutenant Colonel Fawzi Chamoun, representing General Security on behalf of Major General Abbas Ibrahim.

The Israeli army uprooted several trees that are located outside the technical fence on Lebanon's southern border and also stole the soil at the entrance of the town of Adaisseh, the state-run National News Agency reported Wednesday.

Two excavators carried out logging and uprooting trees outside the fence between Kfar Kila and Adaisseh with the support of a Merkava tank and a number of Humvees.

The United Nations Security Council unanimously approved on Friday the renewal of the term of the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon, reported al-Joumhouria newspaper on Saturday.

It said that the agreement was reached after closed-door consultations over the situation in southern Lebanon.

Lebanon has submitted an official request to the United Nations chief to extend the term of the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon, reported al-Mustaqbal daily on Sunday.

The request was made in accordance to U.N. Security Council resolution 1701 and without making alterations to UNIFIL’s mission.

Italy's Defense Minister Roberta Pinotti is expected to pay a visit to Lebanon soon for talks with high-ranking officials, reported al-Joumhouria newspaper on Saturday.

It said that she is scheduled to hold talks with Prime Minister Tammam Salam, Defense Minister Samir Moqbel, and Army Commander Jean Qahwaji.