BEIRUT, July 1 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said on Tuesday that the Lebanese government had officially submitted a request to extend the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) for an additional year, until Aug. 31, 2026.

"The Lebanese government remains fully committed to Resolution 1701 and to supporting UNIFIL in carrying out its mandate," Salam said during a meeting with a UNIFIL delegation, according to the official National News Agency.

He reaffirmed Lebanon's determination to provide a safe and enabling environment for UNIFIL to fulfill its mission. He stressed the critical importance of ensuring the protection of international personnel and maintaining calm along the Blue Line, the UN-demarcated line marking Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon.

The UN Security Council is expected to vote on the mandate renewal before its expiration at the end of August.

UNIFIL was established in 1978 following Israel's invasion of Lebanon. It currently deploys around 10,000 peacekeepers from about 50 countries. Enditem