The head of U.N. peacekeeping has affirmed that the U.N. force in southern Lebanon, known as UNIFIL, is committed to staying. Beyond its primary mission of monitoring actions by Israel and Hezbollah, the force’s presence also prevents the likelihood that one of the warring factions might take control of U.N. facilities if peacekeepers withdrew.
Jean-Pierre Lacroix, in an interview, noted that such a scenario would compromise the U.N.’s image of neutrality and impartiality. At the onset of Israel’s recent offensive in early October, Israel requested that UNIFIL peacekeepers move back 5 kilometers (around 3 miles) from the Lebanese border for their safety. However, the U.N. declined this request, with Lacroix stating that the peacekeepers remain committed to their mandate.
Since Israel began ground operations on October 1, UNIFIL’s facilities, including an observation post, have been hit, and eight peacekeepers were injured, though all have since recovered. Recently, Israeli forces blocked a UNIFIL patrol near the Lebanese village of Houla, close to the border. U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric responded by emphasizing the need for all parties to respect the U.N. peacekeepers’ unrestricted freedom of movement in southern Lebanon.
Additionally, Dujarric shared data from the U.N. International Organization for Migration, indicating that over 842,000 people have been displaced within Lebanon since October 2023. According to estimates from the Syria Arab Red Crescent, around 469,000 individuals, including men, women, and children, have crossed from Lebanon into Syria since September 23.