Zionist Forces Deploy Grenades Near UN Peacekeepers in Southern Lebanon
The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has reported an incident involving Israeli forces, who allegedly threw grenades near its peacekeepers in the Nabatieh Governorate of southern Lebanon. The peacekeeping mission has condemned the act, describing it as a "serious violation" of UN Security Council Resolution 1701.
On Friday, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) reported that the Israeli army deployed grenades near peacekeepers on the previous day. The peacekeepers, working alongside Lebanese forces, were engaged in safeguarding civilian workers as they removed debris from homes demolished in the Israeli offensive on Maroun al-Ras.
According to the statement, a grenade exploded near an excavator roughly 500 meters away, and a subsequent blast occurred 30 to 40 meters away following a drone flyover.
Approximately 20 minutes after the initial incident, another drone was seen releasing a grenade, which detonated just 20 meters above the heads of UNIFIL personnel.
The statement noted that, fortunately, there were no injuries reported, allowing work to resume thereafter.
The statement underscored that assaults on peacekeepers or hindrances to their designated duties reflect a disregard for the safety and security of UNIFIL personnel and the Lebanese army, as well as the stability they strive to reestablish in southern Lebanon.
UNIFIL has stated that these actions represent a “serious violation” of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701.
The resolution, instrumental in negotiating a ceasefire to end the 33-day conflict initiated by Israel against Lebanon in 2006, urges the Tel Aviv administration to honor Lebanese sovereignty and territorial integrity.
UNIFIL has issued a call to the Israeli military to halt any assaults targeting or in proximity to peacekeepers, civilians, and Lebanese soldiers, urging them to permit the mission to execute its mandated duties unobstructed.
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) was initially set up to oversee the withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon following Israel’s 1978 invasion. The mission’s mandate was subsequently extended in the aftermath of the 2006 Lebanon conflict.
The recent Israeli assault occurs at a time of escalating demands on the Lebanese government to dismantle the Hezbollah resistance movement. Both the United States and Israel have stepped up criticism of the peacekeeping force, accusing it of failing to address the presence of Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.
Observers point out that UNIFIL’s mandate does not encompass actions against Hezbollah, which is largely regarded in Lebanon as a vital deterrent to Israeli aggression.
In the face of frequent Israeli airstrikes and ongoing breaches of Lebanese airspace and sovereignty, Hezbollah persists as the sole formidable military entity poised to confront Israeli occupation and deter further incursions.
Lebanese authorities have denounced Israel’s ongoing occupation of five sites in southern Lebanon, labeling it a blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement.
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, facing increasing pressure from the United States and Israel to advocate for the disarmament of Hezbollah, expressed his approval for the extension of UNIFIL’s mandate. However, he underscored the necessity for Israel to vacate occupied Lebanese lands.
Critics have raised concerns over the ability of Lebanese forces to establish control in the southern region as Israeli troops continue to maintain their presence and intensify their military actions.
Amid increasing calls from Washington and Israel to disarm Hezbollah, numerous voices in Lebanon contend that these initiatives overlook a fundamental issue: Israel’s ongoing infringements on Lebanese sovereignty.
