The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, known as Unifil, has charged the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) with intentional and alarming violations in recent days. Various Unifil positions have been targeted by gunfire, leading to calls for action from the UN Security Council and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, among others.
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) was established in 1978 to oversee the country’s southern border following Israel’s invasion. Since then, the UN Security Council has repeatedly renewed and expanded its mandate, particularly during Israel’s 18-year occupation of southern Lebanon from 1982 to 2000. Following the 2006 war with Hezbollah, Unifil’s role was further revised.
Primarily, Unifil aims to maintain peace in the areas along the Lebanon-Israel border. It monitors the movements of both Israeli and Lebanese forces across the “blue line,” a 75-mile (120 km) UN-delineated boundary that has effectively become a border. Additionally, Unifil is responsible for assisting the Lebanese national army in keeping the region free of militants. However, this objective has proven challenging, as Hezbollah, the most powerful political and military group in Lebanon, maintains control over the southern part of the country.
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The Unifil force, comprising 10,000 personnel from 50 countries and supported by around 800 civilian staff, is primarily contributed by Indonesia, which provides over 1,200 uniformed members. Other significant contributors include India, Ghana, Nepal, and Italy. Additionally, Spain, France, and Ireland have also deployed troops and have expressed concerns for their safety. The area of operations for UN peacekeepers is defined by the Litani River to the north and the blue line to the south. Unifil operates from 29 positions throughout southern Lebanon.
Since Israel’s invasion of Lebanon on October 1, its forces have repeatedly targeted Unifil positions, as well as medical personnel and first responders. Unifil has held the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) responsible for a series of violations, including the forced entry into a base on Sunday. UN peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix reported on Monday that five peacekeepers had been injured in recent days, and the UN has formally protested these actions to Israel.
Israel has called for the evacuation of peacekeepers from the area, a move that would effectively render the force ineffective. The country argues that Unifil has not succeeded in keeping Hezbollah militants—who have been involved in a prolonged tit-for-tat conflict with Israel—out of southern Lebanon.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel “will make every effort to prevent Unifil casualties.” This contradicts Unifil’s claims that it has been deliberately targeted. Netanyahu also accused the peacekeepers of “providing a human shield” to Hezbollah.
Both Israel and Hezbollah station their forces near Unifil positions.
Technically, Unifil has the right to self-defense, although in practice, this is not often exercised. As a peacekeeping mission, Unifil states that its “personnel may exercise their inherent right of self-defence” and may use “proportionate and gradual use of force” to protect civilians under imminent threat of physical violence.
Israel maintains a hostile relationship with the UN and has targeted its schools, medical centers, and aid workers. This antagonism largely stems from the role that UN aid and human rights organizations have played over the years in supporting Palestinians and exposing abuses under Israeli occupation.
Israel has consistently accused the UN of bias against it. Netanyahu has referred to the organization as a “house of darkness” and a “swamp of antisemitic bile.” The UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, who has condemned Israel’s actions, was recently declared persona non grata.
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