The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) voiced strong concerns on Monday following a series of attacks on UN peacekeeping positions in southern Lebanon. The incidents occurred amid ongoing clashes between the Israeli military and Hezbollah militants, raising fears of escalating violence along the sensitive Lebanon-Israel border.
In a unanimous statement, the 15-member Council urged all parties involved in the conflict to ensure the safety and security of United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) personnel. Though the statement did not specifically name Israel, Hezbollah, or Iran, the call was clearly directed at the warring factions operating in the volatile region.
“U.N. peacekeepers and U.N. premises must never be the target of an attack,” read the UNSC statement, reaffirming its support for the peacekeeping mission, which is seen as a critical stabilizing force in the region. The Council also called for the full implementation of Resolution 1701, the 2006 agreement that aimed to maintain peace between Lebanon and Israel following the Second Lebanon War.
Since Israel launched a ground operation in southern Lebanon on October 1, peacekeepers from the UNIFIL mission have found themselves increasingly caught in the crossfire. The U.N. reports that its positions have been affected 20 times, including incidents involving direct fire and breaches of their compounds.
One of the most alarming incidents took place on Sunday when two Israeli tanks burst through the gates of a UNIFIL base. This incursion is among the growing list of attacks that have wounded five peacekeepers so far, including one who sustained a bullet wound. The source of the gunfire has yet to be confirmed, and investigations are ongoing.
U.N. spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric expressed grave concern over these developments. “The incidents involving our peacekeepers are unacceptable and jeopardize our ability to operate effectively,” he told reporters. Despite the tensions, UN peacekeepers continue their mission in the region, although their ability to maintain stability is increasingly in question.
Israel has escalated its calls for U.N. peacekeepers to retreat. For the past two weeks, Israeli officials have urged UNIFIL personnel to move five kilometers back from the Blue Line, the U.N.-demarcated boundary between Lebanon and Israel, for their own safety. In a recent address to U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated this demand, stating: “The time has come for you to withdraw UNIFIL.”
Despite these calls, UN peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix maintained that the U.N. mission would remain in place. After briefing the Security Council in a closed-door session on Monday, Lacroix told reporters that U.N. troops would not be moved and that peacekeepers were “reviewing the situation constantly” while making contingency plans for potential escalations.
“We are committed to fulfilling our mandate, and any withdrawal would leave a dangerous vacuum in southern Lebanon,” Lacroix explained. He added that while there is an ongoing review of the mission’s operations, there are no immediate plans to move the peacekeepers back or scale down their presence.
Resolution 1701, which was adopted following the 2006 conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, outlines the key objectives of the UNIFIL mission. The primary goal is to assist Lebanese authorities in maintaining security in southern Lebanon and ensuring the region remains free of any armed personnel or weapons, other than those controlled by the Lebanese government.
However, despite the existence of Resolution 1701, Israeli Ambassador to the U.N., Danny Danon, has expressed dissatisfaction with its implementation. He has accused both the Lebanese army and UNIFIL of failing to control the area and prevent Hezbollah’s military buildup along the border.
“Our soldiers are now in the field, along the border in Lebanon, exposing and dismantling Hezbollah’s infrastructure,” Danon told the Security Council last week, arguing that Israel’s actions were necessary to enforce the resolution.
Danon has called for a “more robust mandate” for UNIFIL, suggesting that the peacekeeping mission should be empowered to actively deter Hezbollah, rather than merely assisting the Lebanese government. However, any changes to the mission’s mandate would need to be authorized by the Security Council, and diplomats indicate that no formal discussions on this matter have taken place.
The clashes between Israel and Hezbollah, both backed by external actors, have heightened concerns of a wider regional war. Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed Shiite militant group, has long been a significant player in Lebanon’s complex political and military landscape. While clashes between the Israeli military and Hezbollah have flared periodically over the years, the current conflict risks drawing in neighboring countries and escalating into a broader conflict.
The United States and France have stressed the importance of strengthening the Lebanese army as a means of implementing Resolution 1701 and maintaining peace. U.S. Deputy Ambassador to the U.N., Robert Wood, told reporters on Monday that UNIFIL must be allowed to continue its operations, underlining the need for the mission to remain effective in maintaining stability along the Blue Line.
Meanwhile, Russia’s U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia warned that UNIFIL was being “jeopardized and endangered” by the current hostilities, noting that peacekeepers were increasingly vulnerable to attacks. He also criticized Israel’s aggressive stance toward the mission, calling it “unacceptable” for any party to openly threaten U.N. personnel.
UNIFIL’s role in southern Lebanon has always been delicate, balancing the need to monitor the border and support the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) while maintaining neutrality in a region fraught with tension. Although UNIFIL is mandated to assist Lebanese forces in maintaining control over southern Lebanon, it has no direct authority to prevent the smuggling of weapons or to confront Hezbollah militarily.
This limitation has long been a point of contention, with Israel criticizing the mission’s inability to prevent Hezbollah from stockpiling arms in violation of Resolution 1701. Nevertheless, UN officials have repeatedly argued that enforcing the resolution is not part of UNIFIL’s mandate. “We have to stand against every suggestion that if Resolution 1701 was not implemented, it’s because UNIFIL did not implement it,” Lacroix noted, reiterating that the peacekeepers have a supporting role.
As clashes continue, questions are mounting about the future of the UNIFIL mission and its ability to maintain stability in southern Lebanon. The mission, which currently comprises around 10,000 troops from various countries, is authorized until August 31, 2025. But with Israel calling for its withdrawal and Hezbollah’s presence continuing to grow, the prospects for peace along the Blue Line appear uncertain.
Lebanon’s internal political and economic crises further complicate the situation. The Lebanese Armed Forces, long seen as a key partner for UNIFIL, are struggling to maintain order within the country, much less in the volatile southern border region. With external actors like Iran and Syria backing Hezbollah, and Israel committed to dismantling the group’s infrastructure, the conflict shows little sign of abating.
In the coming days, diplomatic efforts will be critical in preventing further escalation. The Security Council will likely face increased pressure to address Israel’s concerns about Hezbollah while ensuring the safety and operational effectiveness of UNIFIL. However, the absence of a clear international consensus on how to modify the mission’s mandate could hinder any significant changes.
As Jean-Pierre Lacroix meets with Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon, there will be much at stake—not only for UNIFIL but for the broader security and stability of the Middle East. UN officials are expected to continue their efforts to mediate between the parties involved, but with tensions at an all-time high, the future of peace in southern Lebanon remains as fragile as ever.
