What is the Blue Line?
blue line It is the demarcation line that divides Lebanon from Israel and the occupied Golan Heights. It was established by the UN and any unauthorized crossing of this line is considered a violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701. In 2000, Israeli troops withdrew to the Blue Line, abandoning southern Lebanon.
Where do peacekeepers operate?
UNIFIL’s area of operations is located between the Litani River in the north and the Blue Line in the south. The mission involves more than 10,000 military personnel from 50 countries and approximately 800 civilians.
What does resolution 1701 require?
Resolution 1701 provides assistance to the Lebanese army to maintain order and disarm armed groups not affiliated with the Lebanese state, which provoke conflicts with Hezbollah. Hezbollah, backed by Iran, effectively controls southern Lebanon and remains one of the most powerful political and military forces in the country.
UNIFIL must also prevent hostile acts in its area of responsibility by taking all necessary measures to ensure security.
How do peacekeepers address violations?
UNIFIL must report any violations of resolution 1701 to the UN Security Council. The UN Secretary-General reports every four months on progress in implementing the resolution. Peacekeepers take preventive measures to avoid violations, such as coordination, patrols and cooperation with the Israeli and Lebanese armies.
Violations
Peacekeepers face abuses from both Israel and Lebanese armed groups. Frequent violations include possession of unauthorized weapons by Hezbollah and aerial violations by Israeli planes and drones. Peacekeepers also regularly face restrictions on their freedom of movement.
In July 2023, the latest report of the UN Secretary General mentioned the same problems: the violation of Lebanese airspace by the Israeli Air Force and the presence of armed groups outside the control of the Lebanese State.
Previously, Cursor reported that Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz harshly criticized UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres after it emerged that the leader of Hamas in Lebanon, liquidated by the IDF, was also serving as head of the UNRWA teachers union in that country.
