The United Nations and UNIFIL forces in Lebanon have urgently called on all parties to cease hostilities in accordance with Resolution 1701, expressing concerns over the escalation of conflicts beyond the Blue Line, significantly increasing risks.
A joint statement by Joanna Wronecka, the UN’s Special Coordinator for Lebanon, and General Aroldo Lazzaro, head of UNIFIL and its General Commander, highlighted this as the most severe violation of Security Council Resolution 1701 since its adoption in 2006. They stressed the grave risks posed by the gradual expansion of the scope and scale of confrontations, which could lead to further deterioration of an already concerning situation.
The statement emphasized the urgent need for all parties to recommit to the ceasefire under Resolution 1701 and to utilize all avenues to prevent further escalation while there is still an opportunity for diplomatic efforts. It also underscored the necessity of refocusing on achieving a permanent ceasefire and finding a long-term solution to the conflict, highlighting the critical role of a political process based on the full implementation of Resolution 1701.
This comes amid the Israeli military’s completion of preparations for a potential military operation on the Lebanon border and intermittent clashes between Hezbollah and Israeli forces since the Gaza war outbreak on October 8, with Hezbollah declaring Lebanon a “support front for Gaza.”
The recent tensions between Lebanon and Israel, escalating since the Gaza war began on October 7, 2023, have seen a significant increase in hostilities. The conflict intensified with Hezbollah, an Iran-backed Lebanese group, engaging in near-daily rocket attacks on Israeli positions at the border, prompting Israel to conduct air and artillery strikes in southern Lebanon. This conflict has been described as the worst fighting between Israel and Hezbollah since the 2006 war, part of an Iran-backed alliance that also includes Hamas. The situation has resulted in the deaths of about 100 people in Lebanon, 80 of whom were Hezbollah fighters, and tens of thousands fleeing from both sides of the border.
In the broader context, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have suffered significant losses, with attacks by Hezbollah in northern Israel resulting in civilian and military casualties. The situation has led to increased international discussions, with Israel’s Defense Minister meeting counterparts from key ally countries to coordinate responses to the escalations on multiple fronts, including the Lebanon border area.
