Published October 30,2024
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The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) reiterated Wednesday its demand for events to decide to UN Resolution 1701 to ease the escalating state of affairs in Lebanon.
UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti, advised reporters remotely from Beirut that tensions have surged dramatically within the latest weeks, which he mentioned reworked the hostilities right into a extra deadly and intense battle.
He mentioned the actions of the Israeli army and Hezbollah are placing peacekeepers in peril, whether or not via crossfire or deliberate assaults, however UNIFIL continues to remain involved with Lebanese and Israeli authorities and is urging de-escalation.
“Our message to them is clear, recommit to resolution 1701, in action and not just words,” mentioned the spokesperson.
Resolution 1701 which was adopted Aug. 11, 2006, calls for a whole cessation of hostilities between Lebanon and Israel and the institution of a demilitarized zone between the Blue Line — the de facto boundary between Lebanon and Israel — and the Litani River, permitting solely the Lebanese military and UNIFIL to own weapons and army tools within the space.
He mentioned UNIFIL continues to stay in its positions in southern Lebanon, monitoring the state of affairs and reporting to the Security Council.
“So, our activities have been definitely challenged, and our also patrolling activities have been limited, but we still continue to assist the UN agency, also to bring humanitarian assistance to the population,” mentioned Tenenti.
He mentioned there are nonetheless 1000’s of individuals caught in villages with out entry to fundamental wants, which he mentioned has been difficult to deliver help to native populations.
“But we continue to monitor and we continue to be present and do as much as we can to carry out our activities,” he mentioned, including the overwhelming majority of the inhabitants within the south have left, and there are nonetheless folks dwelling in “a very dramatic situation” as most villages have been destroyed and shelling is continuous.
In response to criticism of UNIFIL not implementing the mandate, Tenenti mentioned it must be applied by the events and UNIFIL is right here to help the half in implementation of the mandate.
“So, we need the commitment of the parties in order to implement resolution 1701, which still remain the main framework and the only viable solution,” he added.
Israel has mounted an enormous air marketing campaign in Lebanon since September in opposition to what it claims are Hezbollah targets in an escalation from a 12 months of cross-border warfare between Israel and the group because the begin of Israel’s brutal onslaught on the Gaza Strip.
More than 2,700 folks have been killed and almost 12,500 injured in Israeli assaults since final October, based on Lebanese well being authorities.
Israel expanded the battle this 12 months by launching an incursion into southern Lebanon on Oct. 1.
Source: www.anews.com.tr