The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) has declared that a base housing roughly 30 Irish Defence Forces personnel in southern Lebanon faces the most significant threat among the 29 UN bases in the region. This follows a series of shellings on Sunday night. If the escalating conflict between the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) and Hizbullah continues, Unifil may have to retract and initiate retreats, echoing actions taken during the 2006 war.
The UN mission, composed of 10,000 military personnel hailing from 50 nations, of which 300 are from Ireland, informed they have not been threatened by Israel regarding the posts, which are all located within 5km of the border between southern Lebanon and northern Israel, also known as the ‘blue line’.
Over the weekend Ireland’s President, Michael D Higgins, in his capacity as the commander-in-chief of the Defence Forces, claimed that Israel had threatened Unifil’s peacekeeping force, including the Irish soldiers amongst them.
Close to the anniversary of the Hamas attacks on Israel, President Higgins stated that it was unacceptable for the IDF to threaten the peacekeeping force and push them to abandon the villages under their protection.
However, Unifil’s spokesperson, Andrea Tenenti, clarified on Monday that while IDF had recommended the UN to remove their personnel from certain posts near the blue line, there had been no explicit threats from Israel. He reminded the IDF of their duty to protect UN bases and installations, stressing that so far, no threats have been received.
The Israeli embassy in Dublin vehemently disapproved of the Presidential intervention over the course of the weekend, proclaiming that the assertion of the IDF posing a threat to Unifil troops was baseless and provocative. The embassy defended the IDF’s request to reposition Unifil personnel for their security and wellbeing, stating that the request was made through distinct channels.
On Monday, Mr Tenenti revealed that IDF staff had lodged themselves only several hundred metres from position 6-52, the current location of 30 Irish soldiers. This spot, located southeast of Marun ar Ras within Lebanese territory, is where the IDF established a firing point amid their conflicts with Hizbullah.
As the crossfire within the area escalates, fears are growing that position 6-52 may be targeted. It’s important to note that Irish staff endured similar threats in the 80s as well as in 2006.
The Defence Forces confirmed that their personnel stationed in Lebanon were safe and sound, and the Irish soldiers are maintaining their strong resolve and endurance in carrying out the mission.
Mr Tenenti also mentioned the heavy artillery fire exchanged between the IDF and Hizbullah near the Irish station on Sunday night. Efforts to manage the tense situation were being made by the UN in New York, primarily through dialogue with the Israeli permanent mission to the UN.
Keeping the exchanges of fire in proximity to UN stations makes the overall security of peacekeepers vulnerable and hinders the delivery of supplies. Mr Tenenti said they had enough supplies for a few weeks, and a convoy was arranged to deliver to their location.
The IDF had notified the UN about their rare and limited intrusions into the zones. Despite this, Unifil, with the consensus from partaking nations, opted to stay put.
Nevertheless, the situation started showing signs of aggravating with the artillery bombings on Sunday night. Although there was a brief lull in hostility early Monday, Mr Tenenti hinted that if conditions worsen, the UN might be compelled to re-evaluate Unifil’s stance.
“If it comes to a stage where the mission cannot function… a decision on how to progress would need to be made by the security council, similar to the situation in 2006,” he expressed.
This was in reference to the events 18 years ago, when hostilities between Hizbullah and IDF resulted in a conflict. Unifil had to reduce its force to merely 2,000 members, but not before UN staff fell victim to IDF bombings.