Ignoring Israel’s repeated calls, UN peacekeeping troops in Lebanon will remain in all positions

Despite repeated calls from Israel for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) to withdraw from areas where the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are conducting operations against Hezbollah, the UN has firmly stated that it will not remove its peacekeeping forces from southern Lebanon amidst escalating tensions over recent incidents.

In a press briefing on October 14 in New York, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the UN’s Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, confirmed that UNIFIL will maintain a presence at all positions, including those near the Lebanon-Israel border.

Lacroix emphasized, “Although the Israeli Defense Forces have called for the withdrawal of forces located near the Blue Line, the decision has been made that UNIFIL will remain in all positions. I want to stress that this decision stands.” He also noted that this resolution has the full support of the UN Security Council and the countries contributing troops, and it has received confirmation from Secretary-General António Guterres.

Prior to Lacroix’s statements, the UN Security Council had convened for emergency closed-door consultations regarding the situation in Lebanon, expressing “strong concern” over recent attacks. While they did not name specific parties involved, the statement read by the council’s rotating president, Pascale Baeriswyl, Switzerland’s ambassador to the UN, urged all sides to “respect the safety and security of UNIFIL personnel and UN premises.”

Recent reports from the Israel Times indicate that four UNIFIL soldiers were injured on October 10 and 11 as a result of IDF fire aimed at Hezbollah. A fifth peacekeeping officer was injured on the 11th during military operations, though it remains unclear who fired the shots.

Moreover, earlier reports indicated that two Israeli Merkava tanks allegedly breached a UNIFIL base on the morning of October 13, causing damage to the main gate. Shortly after the tanks departed, an explosion occurred about 100 meters away from the base, enveloping the area in thick smoke and dust and causing discomfort to several personnel.

Later that evening, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a video statement accusing UNIFIL of “providing human shields for Hezbollah terrorists” and directly called on Secretary-General Guterres to withdraw the peacekeeping forces to ensure their safety.