Blue helmets will maintain “all their positions” in Lebanon
Published: Tuesday, Oct 15th 2024, 00:40
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Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu once again demanded on Monday that the blue helmets deployed in southern Lebanon should withdraw from some positions near the Israeli-Lebanese border.
Tensions between Israel and Unifil have increased in recent days. Five of its soldiers were injured by the Israeli army.
"It has been decided that Unifil will maintain all its positions despite the Israeli army's calls to evacuate the positions near the Blue Line between Lebanon and Israel," said UN peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix.
"I would like to emphasize that this decision is still valid," the French diplomat added, explaining that it had been endorsed earlier on Monday by UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
UN Security Council expresses great concern
The UN Security Council expressed its "grave concern" on Monday after blue helmet soldiers in Lebanon were injured by the Israeli army, which is conducting military operations against Hezbollah in the south of the country.
"In the context of the ongoing hostilities along the Blue Line, the members of the Security Council have expressed their grave concern after several Unifil positions have come under fire in recent days. Several Blue Helmets have been injured," announced the Presidency of the Council, which is currently occupied by Switzerland.
Benyamin Netanyahu reiterated on Monday that Israel would continue to act "mercilessly against Hezbollah" in Lebanon after the pro-Iranian movement carried out the deadliest attack on Israeli soil in nearly a month of military escalation.
He also reiterated that Hezbollah was using "the facilities and positions of Unifil as cover for its attacks" against Israel.
Unifil has more than 9500 members.
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