Lebanon: Devastation awaits returnees as UN peacekeepers prepare exit

Equipment maintenance on the Blue Line that separates Lebanon from Israel and which is patrolled by UNIFIL, the UN peacekeeping force.

The situation in southern Lebanon remains volatile and extremely difficult for communities trying to rebuild their lives, UN peacekeepers based there report, despite a significant decrease in hostilities following an agreement in June between the United States, Lebanon and Israel.

Speaking to UN News from Naqoura in southern Lebanon, Kandice Ardiel, spokesperson for the UN Interim Force in Lebanon ( UNIFIL ), said that daily violations by Israeli forces continue to be observed across southern Lebanon .

These include the construction of military positions and roads, military operations, demolitions, airstrikes and artillery fire on the Lebanese side of the Blue Line.

The Blue Line is a “line of withdrawal”. It was identified in the year 2000 by the United Nations, in cooperation with Lebanese and Israeli officials, as a reference to confirm the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Lebanese territory as required by Security Council resolution 425 (1978).

In addition, on Tuesday, UNIFIL reported that a routine patrol near Wadi Jilu was also fired upon. Peacekeepers returned fire and reported that the shooting stopped, with no injuries reported. The force has called for a prompt investigation from the Lebanese Government.

本文の著作権はUN Newsにあります。