The UN peacekeeping chief stated Friday that the blue helmet power in Lebanon will maintain its line regardless of dealing with assaults in latest weeks, including that its positions can be “occupied” if it left.
Greater than 10,000 peacekeepers with the UNIFIL mission have been stationed in southern Lebanon since 1978 and are tasked with monitoring the “Blue Line” of demarcation with Israel.
Jean-Pierre Lacroix, beneath secretary-general for peace operations, stated that “UNIFIL peacekeepers are staying, they’re holding their line, and so they’re decided to proceed doing what they’re mandated to do.”
He stated the power had rejected an Israeli request that it transfer 5 kilometers from the Blue Line.
“To begin with, as a result of there’s a mandate… we’re responsibility born to the mandate, the peacekeepers want to remain,” Lacroix stated in an interview with the UN Data Service.
“Second, as a result of we thought that if these positions alongside the Blue Line are deserted, then they might seemingly be occupied by one celebration or the opposite. That might be very dangerous for a lot of causes, together with the notion of impartiality and neutrality of the United Nations,” he added.
On Wednesday, a UNIFIL spokesman stated the power had recorded greater than 30 incidents in October leading to property injury or harm to peacekeepers, about 20 of them from Israeli fireplace or motion.
Israel is combating a two-front struggle, in opposition to Iran-backed Hezbollah — in combating that has included Israeli forces invading Lebanon — and in opposition to Hamas in Gaza.
The present battle was triggered by the October 7, 2023, Hamas assaults on Israel.
