UN Peacekeepers in Southern Lebanon Face Increased Threats Amid Israel's Conflict with Hezbollah

Israeli tanks reportedly forced their way into a UN position in southern Lebanon on Sunday. This incident occurred as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged the UN peacekeeping force, known as UNIFIL, to vacate the area. The situation has sparked international criticism, especially after Israeli forces have repeatedly targeted UN peacekeepers since their ground operations began in Lebanon. Recently, five peacekeepers have sustained injuries.

UNIFIL, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, was established in 1978. Its primary role was to oversee the withdrawal of Israeli troops after their invasion and occupation of southern Lebanon. Although Israel invaded again in 1982, it wasn't until 2000 that they withdrew. The UN then created a boundary known as the Blue Line between Lebanon and Israel, which UNIFIL monitors.

UNIFIL's Role and Challenges

The mission of UNIFIL expanded following the 2006 conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. Peacekeepers were deployed along the Israeli border to monitor hostilities and patrol a buffer zone. Currently, around 10,000 peacekeepers from about 50 countries are stationed in southern Lebanon. They monitor compliance with UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 fighting, and support local communities.

Israel's recent ground invasion of Lebanon has heightened tensions. Earlier this month, Israel requested that UNIFIL move its personnel further north, but the peacekeeping force refused. On Thursday, an Israeli tank reportedly fired directly at UNIFIL's headquarters in Naqoura, injuring two Indonesian peacekeepers and damaging an observation tower.

Escalating Tensions

UNIFIL reported that its headquarters and nearby positions have been repeatedly targeted. They claim that Israel deliberately fired on their monitoring cameras and a bunker where peacekeepers were sheltering. On Friday, new explosions injured two more peacekeepers at their headquarters, although they did not directly blame Israel.

Italy and France have summoned Israeli ambassadors in protest of these attacks. Italy's defence minister described them as potential "war crimes." On Sunday, two Israeli tanks reportedly entered a UNIFIL base and later fired smoke rounds near peacekeepers. Fifteen peacekeepers experienced skin irritation and gastrointestinal issues due to these actions.

Israeli Response

The Israeli army expressed concern over Thursday's incident and is conducting a review at high command levels. On Friday, they stated that soldiers responded to an immediate threat with fire but did not provide further details on Saturday. On Sunday, Israel claimed a tank backed into a UN post while evacuating wounded soldiers under fire.

Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani stated that Israel only targets Hezbollah and maintains contact with UNIFIL. He added that any harm to UN forces is investigated thoroughly. "We regret the injury to the UNIFIL soldiers," Netanyahu said on Sunday. He suggested that removing them from danger would prevent further injuries.

Impact on Peacekeeping Efforts

Israel's demand for peacekeepers to evacuate would hinder their mission significantly. Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the UN peacekeeping chief, informed the Security Council that while UNIFIL won't evacuate personnel, air and ground attacks have halted patrols since late September when Israel intensified its campaign against Hezbollah.

Lacroix mentioned challenges in resupplying fuel, food, and water due to security concerns. He noted that 300 peacekeepers had been temporarily relocated to larger bases with plans for another 200 depending on security conditions. In some areas of southern Lebanon, peacekeeper numbers have been reduced by about 20%.