UNIFIL mandate expiry fuels security concerns in Lebanon

The mandate for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) is set to expire at the end of the year, sparking alarm among residents and business owners in southern Lebanon who have depended on the peacekeepers for security and economic stability.

In the southern village of Ebel el Saqi, bakery owner Jawad Akhbar described a community largely emptied of people, with local businesses struggling to stay afloat.

"The situation we are in today, in an area without people, I mean, this area is considered almost dead. We depend only on the village for business. There's a little that comes in from the main road, but in general, business is very slow," said Akhbar.

Continued clashes and Israeli airstrikes have left many villages deserted, with residents afraid to return. Locals now worry that UNIFIL's departure could make things worse.

"Their withdrawal from here will definitely have a negative impact. We need them to be here. We feel that their presence gives us support and security as well. And on the business level, of course the business will be affected. They create economic traffic for us," said Akhbar.

UNIFIL arrived in 1978 to oversee the Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon, with its mandate significantly expanded in 2006 following a month-long war between Israel and Hezbollah. However, with U.S. and Israeli criticism mounting, the mission now faces an uncertain future, and locals fear its departure could further worsen an already fragile situation.

"Our relationship with the people here is excellent overall. Actually, they get a sense of security with UNIFIL around, which I think you also got a sense of," said Tilak Pokharel, UNIFIL spokesman.

Whether another international force will replace UNIFIL remains unclear. Political analyst Kassem Kassir warned of the risks.

"All possibilities remain open. However, if no alternative is found, Lebanon, and its southern part in particular, will face significant risks, especially as the Israeli army continues to destroy these areas and turn them into devastated and depopulated zones," he said.

As the year draws to a close, southern Lebanon faces uncertainty on every front, with many residents hoping their best days are still ahead.

UNIFIL mandate expiry fuels security concerns in Lebanon

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened an investigation into Tesla's certification that its new Cybercab meets all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS).

The probe, formally designated as an Audit Query, was opened on Sept. 3 and covers an estimated 1,000 Cybercab vehicles, according to an NHTSA investigation document made public on Friday. It will examine the process and technical data Tesla relied upon when certifying the Cybercab, as well as related issues. Tesla began commercial deployment of a small number of Cybercab vehicles in Austin, Texas, on Thursday and notified the agency that it had certified the vehicles as compliant with all applicable FMVSS. Tesla also told the NHTSA that it plans to gradually expand commercial deployment of the Cybercab to include additional vehicles and locations.

The vehicles lack permanently attached conventional manual controls, such as a brake pedal, gas pedal, steering wheel and mirrors, according to the NHTSA.

The agency said the inquiry will examine, among other issues, the extent to which Tesla's certification depended on determinations that certain FMVSS are inapplicable to the Cybercab.

In the United States, the NHTSA establishes vehicle performance requirements, while automakers must certify that their vehicles meet applicable standards before entering the U.S. market, subject to agency oversight to confirm compliance. The NHTSA said it conducts investigations when certified vehicles appear not to adhere to those requirements.

U.S. regulator opens probe into Tesla Cybercab self-certification