LONDON: The UN Interim Force in Lebanon has warned that it is “increasingly concerned” at mounting Israeli military activity and Hezbollah presence near UN positions in the border region between the two countries.
UNIFIL noted an uptick in Hezbollah forces operating near outposts manned by its peacekeepers, and an increase in drone activity.
The drones, UNIFIL said in a statement, have caused a number of explosions, putting its personnel “at risk.”
It added that three drones, believed to have been launched by Hezbollah on May 11, “detonated in an area where Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers could have been present, within metres of UNIFIL’s Naqoura headquarters.”
The statement said another drone “detonated in the same area on Tuesday 12 May at around 5:20 p.m. A few minutes later, a presumed Hizbullah drone detonated inside UNIFIL’s Naqoura headquarters. No one was injured, but some buildings were damaged.”
The statement added that on May 10, a drone crashed near the Naqoura site, but that an investigative team later found the drone was not armed.
“An investigation is underway to determine the origin, but preliminary findings indicate it is of Iranian manufacture, suggesting it was launched by Hizbullah,” UNIFIL said.
It added that on May 5, a drone crashed into a building at the UNIFIL position at Al-Hinniyah. The drone was armed but did not detonate, and no one was injured.
“UNIFIL continues to remind all actors to avoid operating in proximity of United Nations positions and personnel, and further urge all actors to avoid any actions that could put peacekeepers in danger,” it said.
“We have specifically protested IDF presence, activities, and movement of personnel and vehicles near our headquarters.
“We have also protested the activities of non-state actors near our positions to the Lebanese Armed Forces.”
UNIFIL added: “Despite the challenges we face, peacekeepers continue to impartially report what is happening on the ground in south Lebanon to the (UN) Security Council.”
