UNIFIL refuses to leave Israel-Lebanon border despite attacks
The peacekeepers refused to leave the border area in southern Lebanon, as demanded by the Israeli army, determined to stay despite the attacks that left five wounded, to ask for a reduction in tension, Agence France said on Saturday. -Presse (AFP). ) your spokesperson.
“Israeli forces asked us to abandon our positions along the ‘blue line’, from the border to five kilometers from the ‘blue line’”explains Andrea Tenenti, spokesperson for UNIFIL, in an interview with AFP.
The force, which numbers 10,000 men, is now under crossfire from Israel and Hezbollah, who entered open war three weeks ago. If the Israeli army asked UNIFIL to leave “about 29 positions” near the border, did not mention its headquarters, located in Ras Al-Naqura, on the border, which was attacked, notably by Israel, on several occasions, according to the force.
“But there was a unanimous decision to stay, because the UN flag must fly in this area and we must be able to report to the UN Security Council”continue.