UN peacekeepers insist to stay in south Lebanon despite war

The U.N. peacekeeping chief says the U.N. force in southern Lebanon is determined to stay, not only because of its mandate monitoring attacks by Israel and Hezbollah but because the departure of peacekeepers would likely mean U.N. facilities would be taken over by one of the warring parties.

“That would be very bad for many reasons, including the perception of impartiality and neutrality of the United Nations,” Jean-Pierre Lacroix said in a U.N. interview.

At the start of Israel’s latest offensive in early October Israel asked the U.N. peacekeeping force known as UNIFIL to pull back 5 kilometers (3 miles) from the Lebanese border for their safety, but the U.N. refused.

“UNIFIL peacekeepers are staying,” Lacroix said. “They’re holding the line and they’re determined to continue doing what they’re mandated to do.”

UNIFIL facilities, including an observation tower, have been hit and Lacroix said eight peacekeepers have been injured since the Israeli ground operation began on Oct. 1. All have since recovered.

In the latest incident, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Israeli forces blocked a UNIFIL patrol near the village of Houla, not far from the Israeli border.

The U.N. strongly reminds the parties of their obligations to ensure that U.N. peacekeepers have unrestricted freedom of movement in their southern area of operations, Dujarric said.

The U.N. International Organization for Migration has recorded more than 842,000 people who have fled their homes in Lebanon since October 2023, and estimates from the Syria Arab Red Crescent say 469,000 men, women and children have fled Lebanon and crossed into Syria since Sept. 23, Dujarric said.