In a recent development along the volatile Lebanon-Israel border, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has reported a significant escalation in hostilities. On August 25, 2024, UNIFIL detected a surge in military activity, including air strikes and rocket launches, within its area of operations.
UNIFIL, established in 1978 to oversee Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon, operates in a region spanning approximately 1,060 square kilometers in southern Lebanon. The peacekeeping force, comprising around 10,000 personnel from 46 nations as of 2024, plays a crucial role in maintaining stability along the Blue Line - a demarcation established in 2000 to determine Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon.
UNIFIL spokesperson Kandice Ardiel stated, "One such launch was detected from near one of our positions in Hanniyeh," referring to a town about 10 km north of the Lebanon-Israel border. This incident highlights the precarious situation faced by UN peacekeepers in the region.
The spokesperson emphasized the unacceptability of using areas near UNIFIL positions for cross-border attacks, stressing that such actions violate UN Resolution 1701. This resolution, unanimously adopted on August 11, 2006, following the 34-day Lebanon War, mandates UNIFIL to ensure its area of operations is not used for hostile activities.
Interestingly, the Israeli military reported identifying Hezbollah rocket launch sites approximately 150 meters from a UN position in Hanniyeh. Hezbollah, founded in 1985 as a resistance movement against Israeli occupation, is considered a terrorist organization by several countries, including the US and EU.
The recent exchange of fire between Hezbollah and Israeli forces is one of the most intense in over 10 months of ongoing hostilities, occurring parallel to the Gaza conflict. Hezbollah's actions were reportedly in retaliation for the killing of one of its top commanders by Israel in July 2024.
This escalation underscores the enduring tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border, one of the most volatile in the Middle East. Despite UNIFIL's presence and the provisions of Resolution 1701, the region continues to witness periodic outbreaks of violence.
The situation is further complicated by the absence of formal diplomatic relations between Israel and Lebanon, and Hezbollah's involvement in the Syrian Civil War since 2013. These factors contribute to the complex geopolitical landscape of the region.
As UNIFIL continues its mission, renewed annually by the UN Security Council, the recent incidents serve as a stark reminder of the challenges faced in maintaining peace and stability along the Blue Line. The international community remains watchful as tensions persist in this historically troubled region.
"We continually stress to everyone that using areas near our positions to launch attacks across the Blue Line or targeting that puts peacekeepers in danger is unacceptable and a violation of Resolution 1701."