Ignoring Israel’s repeated calls, UN peacekeeping troops in Lebanon will remain in all positions_1

In an exclusive interview, UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix addressed the ongoing tensions in Lebanon, particularly in light of Israel’s repeated demands for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) to withdraw from areas where the Israeli military is conducting operations against Hezbollah. Despite the escalating situation over the past week, Lacroix affirmed that the UN will not withdraw its peacekeeping forces from southern Lebanon.

During a press briefing in New York on October 14, Lacroix reiterated the UN’s commitment to maintaining a presence at all operational positions, including those near the Lebanon-Israel border. “Despite calls from the Israel Defense Forces for us to evacuate our positions close to the Blue Line, a decision has been made for UNIFIL to remain in all its posts. I want to emphasize that this decision is still in effect,” he stated. He also noted that this position is supported by the UN Security Council and the member states that contribute troops, having received confirmation from UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

Prior to Lacroix’s remarks, the UN Security Council held urgent closed-door consultations regarding the situation in Lebanon and released a statement expressing “serious concern” about recent attacks. Although the statement did not name Israel, Lebanon, or Hezbollah, the Security Council’s rotating president, Swiss Ambassador Pascale Baeriswyl, urged all parties to “ensure the safety and security of UNIFIL personnel and UN premises.”

According to reports from Israel Hayom, four UNIFIL soldiers were injured on October 10 and 11 due to fire from the Israeli military targeting Hezbollah. A fifth peacekeeping officer sustained injuries during crossfire on October 11, although it remains unclear who fired the shots.

Furthermore, reports indicated that UNIFIL accused two Israeli Merkava tanks of forcefully entering their base on October 13, causing damage to the main gate. Shortly after the tanks left, an explosion occurred about 100 meters away, producing a substantial amount of smoke and dust that affected several personnel at the UNIFIL base.

In a video address later that evening, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused UNIFIL of “providing human shields for Hezbollah terrorists” and directly called on Secretary-General Guterres to evacuate the peacekeeping forces to protect them from danger.