The United Nations has declared that it will not withdraw its peacekeepers from southern Lebanon, despite mounting pressure from Israel. The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) will maintain its presence along the border with Israel, where intense fighting with Hezbollah continues. Jean-Pierre Lacroix, head of UN peacekeeping operations, confirmed on Monday that UNIFIL will remain in “all its positions,” including those near Hezbollah strongholds, with the full backing of the UN Security Council and contributing member states.
The Israeli military has been accused of attacking UNIFIL positions over the past week, injuring over a dozen peacekeepers, forcibly entering a UN base, and halting the mission’s logistical operations in southern Lebanon. UNIFIL called these violations “shocking” and condemned the incidents. Israel, however, argues that Hezbollah is operating near UNIFIL posts and using the peacekeeping force as a “human shield.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that the peacekeepers are in “harm’s way” and urged the United Nations to withdraw them from combat areas.
The UN Security Council, in its first formal response to Israel’s attacks on UNIFIL positions, expressed “strong concern” on Monday and reiterated support for the peacekeeping mission. Lacroix confirmed that UN peacekeepers would stay in their positions despite Israel’s request for them to move 5 kilometers north of the border to avoid combat zones.
UNIFIL’s primary mandate, established in 1978, is to monitor the border between Israel and Lebanon and help restore peace to the region.
UNIFIL has faced challenges in fulfilling its mission as Hezbollah’s influence in southern Lebanon has grown over the decades. The peacekeeping force, which consists of over 10,000 troops from more than 50 countries, has often found itself caught between Israel and Hezbollah forces. In recent weeks, at least five UNIFIL peacekeepers have been injured, with Israel claiming it warned the force of nearby military operations. UNIFIL has accused Israel of deliberately targeting its positions, a charge Israel denies.
Peacekeepers in south Lebanon are working under harsh conditions. Yesterday I was able to visit Italian peacekeepers whose position has come under IDF fire and seen intense clashes between IDF and Hizbullah forces nearby. I am fiercely proud of their courage and commitment. pic.twitter.com/7CNaubxNeC
— Aroldo Lázaro (@aroldo_lazaro) October 13, 2024
The relationship between Israel and the United Nations has deteriorated further since the October 7 Hamas attack. Israel has accused UN agencies, including UNRWA, the agency supporting Palestinian refugees, of collaborating with Hamas. Israel also claims that Hezbollah has used UNIFIL positions to launch attacks on Israeli forces, citing several incidents where rockets were fired from areas near UN peacekeeper posts. In one such attack, two Israeli soldiers were killed.
In his recent statements, Netanyahu accused UNIFIL of failing to confront Hezbollah and providing cover for its operations. He also labeled the United Nations as biased against Israel, calling it an “antisemitic swamp” during a September address to the General Assembly. Despite these tensions, UNIFIL’s mandate, renewed annually by the UN Security Council, was extended through August 2025.
You might be asking yourself the same question we are: How come Hezbollah is able to embed their weapons just a few meters away from a UNIFIL post? pic.twitter.com/ZlcmW9P3sD
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 14, 2024
BREAKING:
Israel finds Hezbollah terror tunnels just 100 meter from an UNIFIL base in southern Lebanon.
Seems like this is a pattern in the Middle East. Wherever there are UN facilities, there are terror tunnels nearby…
Why @antonioguterres? pic.twitter.com/vWFnUkhfCo
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) October 13, 2024
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