UNITED NATIONS, Aug 11: A revised US-French Security Council draft resolution authorises up to 15,000 UN troops to monitor a withdrawal of Israeli soldiers from southern Lebanon and help the Lebanese army enforce a truce.

The draft calls for a “full cessation of hostilities” and tells the Hezbollah militia to stop all attacks immediately and for Israel to end “all offensive operations.”

After fighting stops, Israel is to withdraw all its forces from southern Lebanon at the earliest. Lebanon is to deploy its armed forces throughout southern Lebanon, which Hezbollah controls, as the Israeli army pulls out.

On the UN force, the resolution says, it is to monitor the truce, accompany the Lebanese army as it deploys and help ensure humanitarian goods can flow to civilians.

The resolution says the UN troops can “take all necessary action” deemed necessary for its operations. France is expected to lead the new force.

Lebanon had objected to any mention of Chapter 7 of the UN Charter, which authorizes the use of force. The resolution avoids citing any provision in the UN Charter.

At US insistence, the draft resolution imposes an arms embargo on all weapons or military equipment “to any entity or individual in Lebanon.”

The draft also calls on Israel and Lebanon to support a long-term solution to the conflict, which includes a buffer zone in southern Lebanon free of militia.

On the disputed Shebaa Farms border area, the draft asks UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan to draw up proposals that would demarcate Lebanon’s border with Israel and Syria.—Reuters