Destruction in southern Lebanon. The UN called for a ceasefire in Lebanon Peace and security
Senior UN officials in Lebanon on Sunday called on the parties to respect the current ceasefire agreement, following reports that Israeli forces had killed 15 people, including a Lebanese soldier, in the area between the two countries. Israel was supposed to leave the area on Sunday under a November agreement, the UN said.
The deadlines set out in the November ceasefire agreement have not been met, UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert and head of the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon (UNIFIL) Haroldo Lazaro said in a joint statement.
The situation along the Blue Line
The agreement between Israel and the Hezbollah armed group came after more than a year of fighting that began amid Israel’s war in Gaza. “As tragic events this morning have shown, the conditions for the safe return of civilians to their villages along the Blue Line have not yet been met,” the UN said in a statement. Recall that the Blue Line is a buffer zone between Israel and Lebanon.
Israel has warned Lebanese citizens not to return to their homes in the south of the country this weekend, saying it will not withdraw troops over alleged ceasefire violations.
Adherence to the agreement
The Special Coordinator and the head of the UN peacekeeping mission are convinced that stability and prosperity in the region can only be achieved if the parties fully comply with their obligations under the November agreement and implement Security Council resolution 1701.
The UN will continue to engage with all parties in this direction and is ready to support efforts to comply with resolution 1701 and implement the November agreement.
Developments in Lebanon
UN representatives noted that positive changes have taken place in Lebanon since the cessation of hostilities agreement came into force on 27 November 2024.
Violence has decreased significantly, and in many areas of southern Lebanon, hundreds of thousands of people have been able to return to their towns and villages. The Lebanese army has deployed forces in areas from which Israeli troops are withdrawing.
EXPLAIN | Security Council Resolution 1701, the Blue Line, and UNIFIL
With the support of UN peacekeepers, the Lebanese forces are helping to restore normal living conditions in the affected areas and creating opportunities for humanitarian aid.
Following the election of a president and the appointment of a prime minister, Lebanon is continuing the process of forming a government. UN representatives called it “an important step in strengthening trust between the citizens of Lebanon and the state.” These events give hope for the full restoration of state control over the entire territory of the country.
UN Peacekeepers Concerned
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) is extremely concerned about reports of Lebanese civilians returning to villages where Israeli troops are still present. In a statement issued by the mission on Sunday, it said civilians were injured as a result of gunfire opened by Israeli soldiers.
At the request of the Lebanese Armed Forces, UNIFIL peacekeepers are deployed in the areas to monitor the situation and help prevent further escalation. However, as noted in the statement, the mandate of UN peacekeepers does not include the ability to influence population movements.
Further violence could undermine the fragile security situation in the area and the prospects for stability associated with an end to hostilities and the formation of a government in Lebanon
The authors of the document call on the Lebanese population to comply with the directives of the country’s armed forces aimed at protecting lives and preventing an escalation of violence in southern Lebanon. “The IDF must avoid targeting civilians on Lebanese territory. Further violence could undermine the fragile security situation in the area and the prospects for stability associated with a cessation of hostilities and the formation of a government in Lebanon,” the UN Mission said in a statement.
UNIFIL stresses the importance of the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and the agreements on the cessation of hostilities through the mechanisms established. This includes the complete withdrawal of the Israeli contingent from Lebanon, as well as the removal of all unauthorized weapons and equipment south of the Litani River, the presence of the Lebanese Armed Forces throughout southern Lebanon, and the return of displaced civilians on both sides of the Blue Line in a safe environment.