UNIFIL Stands Firm Amid Rising Tensions in Southern Lebanon

UN Peacekeeping Mission in Southern Lebanon Stands Firm Amid Escalating Tensions

UN Peacekeeping Mission in Southern Lebanon Stands Firm Amid Escalating Tensions

The United Nations peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon, known as UNIFIL, has reiterated its commitment to maintaining its positions despite repeated demands from the Israeli military for the troops to evacuate the area. This declaration was made by a UN spokesperson on Friday, amidst escalating violence in the region.

This announcement follows Israel’s recent airstrike that killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in Gaza, marking a significant escalation in the conflict that erupted on October 7, 2023. Andrea Tenenti, a spokesperson for UNIFIL, stated that a “unanimous” decision has been reached by the 50 nations contributing to the 10,000-strong force, supported by the UN Security Council.

Notably, over a third of UNIFIL’s personnel are from European Union countries. Tenenti acknowledged that the deteriorating security situation in recent weeks, particularly due to intense fighting between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, has compelled UNIFIL to suspend most of its patrols near the “Blue Line” boundary that demarcates Lebanon from Israel.

Captain Hector Alonso Garcia, a member of the Spanish battalion within UNIFIL, is stationed at an observation tower in Abbassiyeh, a Lebanese village adjacent to the Israeli border. Tenenti highlighted the dangers faced by UNIFIL troops, stating, “The IDF has repeatedly targeted our positions, endangering the safety of our troops. Additionally, Hezbollah has launched rockets toward Israel from areas close to our positions, further jeopardizing our peacekeepers’ safety.”

Earlier this month, UNIFIL reported a serious incident where an Israeli tank directly fired on its headquarters in Naqoura, causing significant damage by knocking down an observation tower and injuring two Indonesian peacekeepers. In a related development, Germany announced on Thursday that a German navy ship, part of the UNIFIL mission off the coast of Lebanon, successfully intercepted a drone of unknown origin.

A Fractious History of UNIFIL

Originally established as an interim force in 1978 following Israel’s invasion of southern Lebanon during “Operation Litani,” UNIFIL has since become a permanent fixture along the Lebanese-Israeli border. The mission was designed to enforce peace and maintain a buffer zone between the two nations while facilitating humanitarian access and civilian protection in the area.

Created just four years before the founding of Hezbollah in 1982, UNIFIL has frequently encountered challenges from both Hezbollah and Israeli forces, struggling to enforce its mandate, particularly during the 2006 Israeli invasion of Lebanon. As Israeli troops have re-entered southern Lebanon in recent weeks, tensions between UNIFIL and both warring parties have escalated significantly.

Israeli officials have criticized UNIFIL for failing to effectively curb Hezbollah’s military activities in the region, alleging that the group operates military facilities alarmingly close to UNIFIL infrastructure.

Related Developments

  • Israeli attacks on UNIFIL are ‘completely unacceptable,’ EU foreign policy chief Borrell states, reflecting EU concerns.
  • 15 UN peacekeepers were injured following Israeli forces’ destruction of the main gate at a UNIFIL compound in Lebanon.

The UN migration agency has reported that nearly 800,000 individuals have been displaced within Lebanon due to the ongoing conflict, with three in five being forced to leave areas under UNIFIL’s operational jurisdiction. Since the onset of Israeli airstrikes on September 23, over 1,300 lives have been lost in Lebanon.

While Tenenti acknowledged the “limitations” imposed by the Security Council resolution governing UNIFIL’s operations—such as prohibitions on searching private properties or disarming Hezbollah—he emphasized that the force continues to report any “suspicious activities” to the Security Council, including Israeli reports of tunnels in the area.

Despite the rising tensions, Tenenti stated that he was unaware of any instances where UNIFIL troops had resorted to firing their weapons in self-defense. “Self-defense can be employed, but we must be pragmatic about when and how to apply it, as we do not wish to become embroiled in the conflict,” he remarked.

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