Why are there UN peacekeepers in Lebanon?

Tanks, drones, artillery and thousands of Israel’s soldiers – this is what United Nationspeacekeepers face in southern Lebanon.

A fifth peacekeeper was wounded near their watchtower in the southern city of Naquora after being hit by gunfire on Saturday, the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) confirmed.

‘It is deliberate and a serious violation of international humanitarian law,’ UNIFIL’s spokesperson.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu conveniently accused the force to be acting ‘as a human shield for Hezbollah’ and has ordered them to vacate their posts – but they have rejected this.

UNIFIL’s contributing nations have condemned Israel’s continuous shelling on the 10,541 peacekeepers between the Litani River and the UN-recognised boundary between Lebanon and Israel known as the Blue Line.

As Israel continues to hit their posts, looks at the history of peacekeepers in Lebanon and why they are still relevant in 2024.

When were the first troops stationed in Lebanon?

UN peacekeepers were first deployed after Israel invaded Lebanon in 1978 – and have continued their presence in the south for more than 46 years.

UNIFIL is made up of 10,541 peacekeepers – most of them troops – from around 50 countries, most dispatched from Indonesia, India, Ghana, Nepal, Italy, Malaysia, Spain, France, China and Ireland. 

They operate in a 410 square mile area defined by the Litani River in the north and the Blue Line – a 100-mile area supposed to serve as a buffer zone between Lebanon and Israel.

Their initial role was to oversee the withdrawal of Israeli soldiers, to restore peace and security and assist Lebanon’s government in regaining authority in the south.

UNIFIL’s mandate for the operation was expanded in 2006 under the UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which brought an end to the 34-day war, after Israel yet again invaded Lebanon to fight Hezbollah.

As part of the resolution, the group was charged by the UN with keeping weapons and fighters out of the south.

Why does Lebanon still have peacekeepers in 2024?

Peacekeepers are supposed to prevent violations in the border zone and report breeches to the UN Security Council.

Although they are armed, they are generally restricted to using force only when their safety or the safety of civilians is in immediate danger.

But the force found itself in the midst of escalating cross-border strikes after Hezbollah began firing guided rockets and artillery shells at Israeli positions in the occupied Shebaa Farms after October 7, 2023.

Since then, their role has transformed to patrolling a battlefront as projectiles are launched on daily basis.

UNIFIL still works to de-escalate tensions by conveying messages between the Lebanese and Israeli militaries, but the formal mediation mechanism has been suspended.

What’s happening now?

Israel Defence Forces (IDF) tanks destroyed the main gate and broke into a United Nations base in southern Lebanon early Sunday morning.

UNIFIL said that about two hours later rounds were fired nearby that saw smoke enter the camp, causing 15 peacekeepers to suffer skin irritations and gastrointestinal reactions.

The IDF offered a different version of events, saying it had encroached on their position to evacuate soldiers who had been wounded by an anti-tank missile.

The European Union on Monday condemned attacks on peacekeepers in Lebanon and rejected Israeli allegations that the UN was keeping them there to prevent an attack on Hezbollah.

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