The international peacekeeping forces operating in Southern Lebanon, known as UNIFIL, have paused their patrols in the area for the third consecutive day after an attack on a group of international observers resulted in three soldiers being injured amidst ongoing gunfire exchanges between Hezbollah and the Israeli military.
According to Lebanon’s official National News Agency, UNIFIL patrols and truce monitors have ceased departing from their bases since their targeting last Saturday.
Three military observers from the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization and a Lebanese interpreter were wounded on Saturday morning during a foot patrol along the Blue Line between Lebanon and Israel, following an explosion near their location.
UNIFIL stated in a release that the injured were evacuated for medical treatment and pledged to conduct investigations to determine the circumstances of the incident. Meanwhile, Lebanese authorities have accused Israel of the assault.
Before the onset of hostilities in Southern Lebanon, UNIFIL used to conduct over 400 patrols daily. This number has significantly decreased amidst the escalating conflict between Hezbollah and the Israeli army, rendering some border areas adjacent to the boundary line as fire-restricted zones for civilians.
UNIFIL bases are located a few kilometers from the border, and in some cases, only a few meters from the Blue Line. The international force deploys about 10,000 soldiers across at least 50 locations in the south.
UNIFIL has repeatedly warned of the increasing escalation, which has reached the mission’s headquarters in the south. Over the past six months, UNIFIL forces have suffered several attacks, with three peacekeepers injured in the past and their bases shelled multiple times. Hence, this incident is not an isolated one.
This cessation of patrols by UNIFIL underscores the heightened tensions in the region and the complexities faced by international peacekeeping efforts amid ongoing hostilities. The situation remains tense, with both the local population and the international community keenly watching developments.
