The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has pledged to maintain its presence along the Blue Line, despite demands from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to relocate. According to Andrea Tenenti, UNIFIL’s spokesperson, the decision to stay was unanimously supported by all contributing countries and the UN Security Council.
Tenenti emphasized the importance of UNIFIL’s mission, stating, “We need to be here, we need to try to bring back stability and peace to this region.” He spoke to journalists from Geneva and later from Beirut, noting that UNIFIL peacekeepers face daily threats, with “hundreds of trajectories” reported, forcing them to seek shelter for their safety.
The spokesperson highlighted recent incidents involving the Israeli military, which have injured peacekeepers and damaged surveillance equipment and perimeter walls. He described these actions as violations of the 2006 UN Security Council Resolution 1701. The resolution, established following the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah, mandates UNIFIL to monitor the ceasefire, ensure Israeli troop withdrawal from southern Lebanon, and assist the Lebanese government in restoring authority in the region.
UNIFIL, first established in 1978, now has over 10,000 peacekeepers working in the region to maintain stability and monitor hostilities.
