India has expressed concern over the safety of peacekeepers following an incident along the Blue Line between Lebanon and Israel. Two United Nations peacekeepers were injured by an Israeli strike while the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) were engaging Hezbollah . The Blue Line, established in the 1970s, has been a longstanding point of tension.
The Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations has expressed its full support for the joint statement issued by the 34 countries contributing troops to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon ( UNIFIL ). India, being a major contributor of troops, emphasised the paramount importance of ensuring the safety and security of peacekeepers in accordance with the existing UN Security Council resolutions.
The Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations said, "As a major Troop Contributing Country, India aligns itself fully with the joint statement issued by the 34 UNIFIL troop contributing countries. Safety and security of peacekeepers are of paramount importance and must be ensured in accordance with extant UNSC Resolutions."
The United Nations Security Council established UNIFIL, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon in response to Israel's "invasion" of Lebanese territory. Since its inception in 1978, UNIFIL has been deployed along the "Blue Line," the border demarcating Lebanon and Israel. The UN Security Council extended the peacekeeping mission's mandate for an additional year in August, ensuring its continued presence in the region.
The ministry of external affairs also commented on the situation, stressing the need for measures to protect UN personnel. "We are concerned at the deteriorating security situation along the Blue Line. We continue to monitor the situation closely. Inviolability of UN premises must be respected by all, and appropriate measures taken to ensure the safety of UN peacekeepers and the sanctity of their mandate," said the MEA.
Meanwhile, IDF acknowledged the concern for the injured peacekeepers and explained the circumstances. "Earlier today (Friday), IDF soldiers operating in southern Lebanon identified an immediate threat against them. The soldiers responded with fire toward the threat. An initial examination indicates that during the incident, a hit was identified on a @UNIFIL_post, located approximately 50 meters from the source of the threat, resulting in the injury of two UNIFIL personnel," IDF had said on X.
Meanwhile, directly addresseing the situation, the spokesperson for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) Andrea Tenenti said that UN peacekeepers stationed in southern Lebanon have decided to maintain their positions near the border, despite the recent injuries sustained by five of their members and the damage to their facilities during the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
According to Tenenti, Israel had requested UNIFIL to withdraw from positions "up to five kilometres (three miles) from the Blue Line" that separates the two countries. However, the peacekeepers unanimously decided to refuse this request, which would have affected all 29 of their positions in the southern region of the country. Tenenti stated, "There was a unanimous decision to stay because it's important for the UN flag to still fly high in this region, and to be able to report to the Security Council."
Tenenti also expressed concern that the recent escalation by Israel against the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah could potentially escalate into "a regional conflict with catastrophic impact for everyone", emphasising that the only viable solution is through diplomatic means.
The Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations has expressed its full support for the joint statement issued by the 34 countries contributing troops to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon ( UNIFIL ). India, being a major contributor of troops, emphasised the paramount importance of ensuring the safety and security of peacekeepers in accordance with the existing UN Security Council resolutions.
The Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations said, "As a major Troop Contributing Country, India aligns itself fully with the joint statement issued by the 34 UNIFIL troop contributing countries. Safety and security of peacekeepers are of paramount importance and must be ensured in accordance with extant UNSC Resolutions."
As a major Troop Contributing Country, India aligns itself fully with the joint statement issued by the 34 @UNIFIL_ troop contributing countries. Safety and security of peacekeepers are of paramount importance and must be ensured in accordance with extant UNSC Resolutions.
— India at UN, NY (@IndiaUNNewYork) October 12, 2024
The United Nations Security Council established UNIFIL, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon in response to Israel's "invasion" of Lebanese territory. Since its inception in 1978, UNIFIL has been deployed along the "Blue Line," the border demarcating Lebanon and Israel. The UN Security Council extended the peacekeeping mission's mandate for an additional year in August, ensuring its continued presence in the region.
The ministry of external affairs also commented on the situation, stressing the need for measures to protect UN personnel. "We are concerned at the deteriorating security situation along the Blue Line. We continue to monitor the situation closely. Inviolability of UN premises must be respected by all, and appropriate measures taken to ensure the safety of UN peacekeepers and the sanctity of their mandate," said the MEA.
Meanwhile, IDF acknowledged the concern for the injured peacekeepers and explained the circumstances. "Earlier today (Friday), IDF soldiers operating in southern Lebanon identified an immediate threat against them. The soldiers responded with fire toward the threat. An initial examination indicates that during the incident, a hit was identified on a @UNIFIL_post, located approximately 50 meters from the source of the threat, resulting in the injury of two UNIFIL personnel," IDF had said on X.
Meanwhile, directly addresseing the situation, the spokesperson for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) Andrea Tenenti said that UN peacekeepers stationed in southern Lebanon have decided to maintain their positions near the border, despite the recent injuries sustained by five of their members and the damage to their facilities during the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
According to Tenenti, Israel had requested UNIFIL to withdraw from positions "up to five kilometres (three miles) from the Blue Line" that separates the two countries. However, the peacekeepers unanimously decided to refuse this request, which would have affected all 29 of their positions in the southern region of the country. Tenenti stated, "There was a unanimous decision to stay because it's important for the UN flag to still fly high in this region, and to be able to report to the Security Council."
Tenenti also expressed concern that the recent escalation by Israel against the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah could potentially escalate into "a regional conflict with catastrophic impact for everyone", emphasising that the only viable solution is through diplomatic means.
