UNIFIL’s Misguided Role in Southern Lebanon: A Threat to Israel's Security

[Social Media]

 

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) was created with a clear mission: to prevent armed militants, particularly Hezbollah, from operating in southern Lebanon and threatening Israel. However, over the years, UNIFIL has failed to fulfill this critical duty, allowing Hezbollah to strengthen its presence in the region. As a result, Israel now finds itself in a position where it must confront the threat directly, while UNIFIL appears to hinder rather than help the situation.

 

UNIFIL’s presence was meant to keep the southern border of Lebanon free from armed militias, ensuring the safety of northern Israel. Instead, Hezbollah has entrenched itself in the region, storing weapons in civilian homes and constructing a sophisticated network of attack tunnels and arms depots. Recently, Israeli forces discovered a tunnel located just 100 meters from a UNIFIL outpost, a shocking indication of how deeply Hezbollah has embedded itself right under the peacekeepers' watch.

 

For nearly a year, Hezbollah launched over 8,500 rockets and missiles into Israel from southern Lebanon, operating largely unchecked by UNIFIL. The region, designated as militia-free by the U.N. Security Council, has become a haven for one of the world’s most dangerous terrorist organizations. Yet, during this time, UNIFIL remained largely passive, doing little to prevent Hezbollah’s militarization of the area.

 

On October 1, Israeli forces entered Lebanon, asking UNIFIL multiple times to relocate north, away from the conflict zone. Despite the escalating situation, UNIFIL refused to move. According to a UNIFIL spokesperson, “There was a unanimous decision to stay because it’s important for the U.N. flag to still fly high in this region.” This stance reflects a troubling prioritization of symbolism over the safety of its peacekeepers and the region’s security.

 

In recent weeks, UNIFIL’s actions have increasingly obstructed Israel's efforts to defend itself against Hezbollah. On October 6, the peacekeeping force raised alarms when Israeli troops were reportedly near one of its positions, labeling it “extremely dangerous” and “unacceptable.”

 

Days later, UNIFIL complained about explosions near an observation tower that injured two of its peacekeepers. Additional injuries were reported on October 12 due to nearby gunfire, and on October 13, the peacekeepers raised concerns again when Israeli tanks passed through one of their gates. Even the smoke from nearby combat rounds has led to what UNIFIL described as “skin irritation and gastrointestinal reactions” among its personnel. While these injuries are regrettable, they underscore the dangers of remaining in a war zone, especially when no peace is left to keep.

 

Despite these incidents, UNIFIL has garnered significant diplomatic support for its criticism of Israel. France, Spain, and Italy have voiced their outrage over the “unjustifiable” harm caused to UNIFIL personnel, while the European Union’s foreign policy chief condemned the events as a “grave violation of international law.” Media outlets like Reuters have framed Israel’s actions as the “targeting of the U.N. peacekeeping mission.”

 

Hezbollah, undoubtedly, benefits from this diplomatic fervor. The international outcry against Israel has shifted focus away from the core issue: Hezbollah’s unchecked control over southern Lebanon. The same diplomatic voices that now decry Israel’s actions were notably silent when Hezbollah was using the region to launch attacks against Israel, leading to the displacement of many residents in northern Israel.

 

Ultimately, UNIFIL’s inability to prevent Hezbollah’s rise in southern Lebanon has made the peacekeeping force a bystander in a conflict it was supposed to prevent. Rather than addressing the root of the problem—Hezbollah’s dominance in the area—UNIFIL has chosen to grandstand, leaving its peacekeepers in harm’s way while Israel takes on the responsibility of neutralizing the threat that UNIFIL failed to contain.

 

Based on an opinion from a WSJ author 2024-10-18

 

Related:

Hezbollah’s Tunnels Next to UN Peacekeeping Outposts Reveal the UN's Failures

IDF Discovers Hezbollah Bunker Stocked for Planned Invasion Bigger than October 7 Attacks

 

 

 

[loong]

2 hours ago, Social Media said:

“There was a unanimous decision to stay because it’s important for the U.N. flag to still fly high in this region.”

 

Why????
The flag is a symbol of the UN incompetence. They have totally failed in their mission and now seem intent on protecting Hezbollah by acting as willing human shields!

They have been warned to get out of the way but complain if they suffer casualties.

[Chomper Higgot]

2 hours ago, Social Media said:

UNIFIL has garnered significant diplomatic support for its criticism of Israel.

And that can’t stand unchallenged.

 

 

[Social Media]

A post making numerous off topic and unsubstaniated claims has been removed. 

 

"Any alleged factual claims must be supported by a valid link to an approved credible source."

[LukKrueng]

1 minute ago, nobodysfriend said:

 

The UN peacekeeping force clearly stands in Israel's way .

The Israelis do not want witnesses to their war crimes .

So , they just shoot at them and tell them to <deleted> off . Later they find the same old excuses like " we targeted Hisbollah " ...

Seen in Gaza and now in Lebanon again ...

This article is heavily biased towards Israel who is trying do more ethic cleansing in a middle east that has been pushed towards a bigger war by an aggressor who punishes whole populations for some extremist actions committed by some Hamas or Hisbollah members .

And the world just stands by and looks ... where are the sanctions for Israel ?

Why to western , democratic countries become complicit in an organized and well planned genocide by delivering the weapons used for the killings of women and kids ?

Who is the terrorist here ? More than 50000 died already and it is still not enough for Israel .

Shame .

I expect this post to be deleted without explanation again .

Sad .

You obviously skipped the beginning of the article which describes what unifil mission is and how they totally failed in keeping it.

As for Gaza - unra - most of their sites are used by hamas to hide weapons and terrorists, many of the unra employees are in fact supporting hamas and some were even part of the October 7th attack on Israel. Unra was established to take care of Palestinian refugees, meaning to help them get out of the refugee status, yet after nearly 80 years they have solved 0 cases

[Hanaguma]

19 minutes ago, LukKrueng said:

You obviously skipped the beginning of the article which describes what unifil mission is and how they totally failed in keeping it.

As for Gaza - unra - most of their sites are used by hamas to hide weapons and terrorists, many of the unra employees are in fact supporting hamas and some were even part of the October 7th attack on Israel. Unra was established to take care of Palestinian refugees, meaning to help them get out of the refugee status, yet after nearly 80 years they have solved 0 cases

Like any government organization, UNRWA wants to stay alive. If they actually were to fulfil their mission and see the Palestinians all resettled, then there would be no need for UNRWA. They would all lose their cushy jobs and bloated paychecks, and have to actually work for a living. The Palestinian population has exploded in recend decades, much to the delight of UNRWA. Gives them reason to demand more money and the ability to hire more of their cronies.

[Chomper Higgot]

2 hours ago, LukKrueng said:

You obviously skipped the beginning of the article which describes what unifil mission is and how they totally failed in keeping it.

As for Gaza - unra - most of their sites are used by hamas to hide weapons and terrorists, many of the unra employees are in fact supporting hamas and some were even part of the October 7th attack on Israel. Unra was established to take care of Palestinian refugees, meaning to help them get out of the refugee status, yet after nearly 80 years they have solved 0 cases

You obviously missed the very end of the article in which it is confirmed as an ‘opinion’:

 

“Based on an opinion from a WSJ author 2024-10-18”

[Bkk Brian]

21 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

You obviously missed the very end of the article in which it is confirmed as an ‘opinion’:

 

“Based on an opinion from a WSJ author 2024-10-18”

Do you disagree with that opinion? I mean, who can really say the UN was anything but a failure in their role in Lebanon?

[Chomper Higgot]

41 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

Do you disagree with that opinion? I mean, who can really say the UN was anything but a failure in their role in Lebanon?

Yes I do disagree with the option, it starts with a false, simplistic and misleading premise:

 

https://peacekeeping.un.org/en/mission/unifil

[LukKrueng]

1 hour ago, Chomper Higgot said:

You obviously missed the very end of the article in which it is confirmed as an ‘opinion’:

 

“Based on an opinion from a WSJ author 2024-10-18”

The actual job of UNIFIL is a fact, not an opinion. 

The Hezbollah presence in southern Lebanon is a fact., not an opinion.

The weapons, missiles, exploding drones being stored in and fired to Israel FROM southern Lebanon - all facts, not an opinion.

The tunnels discovered next to UNIFIL posts are a fact, not an opinion.

 

 

Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Interim_Force_in_Lebanon

 

[Bkk Brian]

5 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Yes I do disagree with the option, it starts with a false, simplistic and misleading premise:

 

https://peacekeeping.un.org/en/mission/unifil

Why, the article is saying the UN failed in its mission, what is simplistic and misleading in the premise? The related links in the OP hold testament to that. 

 

 

 

"The United Nations has been criticised for failing to implement Resolution 1701 and its failure to dismantle or disarm Hezbollah and for failing to prevent it from deploying forces south of the Litani river per Resolution 1701.[49][50][51] According to one analyst, "since 2006, Hezbollah has instead fortified southern Lebanon, particularly towns and villages along the 120-kilometer-long (about 75-mile-long) demarcation line. It has built unauthorized firing ranges, stocked rockets in civilian infrastructure, built tunnels into Israel, and repeatedly stopped UNIFIL from accessing certain areas."[50] Since the 7 October Hamas massacre in Israel, Hezbollah has continued to fire hundreds of rockets into civilian areas of Northern Israel.[52] Approx. 300,000 Israeli civilians have been internally displaced and forced to flee south as a consequence of the bombardment and more than 2,000 civilian buildings destroyed by Hezbollah rockets.[53][54][55]"

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Security_Council_Resolution_1701

[Chomper Higgot]

1 hour ago, LukKrueng said:

The actual job of UNIFIL is a fact, not an opinion. 

The Hezbollah presence in southern Lebanon is a fact., not an opinion.

The weapons, missiles, exploding drones being stored in and fired to Israel FROM southern Lebanon - all facts, not an opinion.

The tunnels discovered next to UNIFIL posts are a fact, not an opinion.

 

 

Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Interim_Force_in_Lebanon

 

The OP, which is itself an opinion piece, provides a description of the UNFIL mission which is a false, simplistic and misleading.

 

I have provided a link to the actual UNFIL mission.

 

So yes I agree, the actual job of UNFIL is not an opinion, refer the link I provided for the facts of what it is.

[Chomper Higgot]

1 hour ago, Bkk Brian said:

Why, the article is saying the UN failed in its mission, what is simplistic and misleading in the premise? The related links in the OP hold testament to that. 

The opinion piece misrepresents the UNFIL mission, refer my posts above.

[Bkk Brian]

Just now, Chomper Higgot said:

The opinion piece misrepresents the UNFIL mission, refer my posts above.

Rubbish, its an opinion based on fact. 

 

Your link does not include its full mandate. Pointless having a mission when they have no mandate:

 

"Under SC Resolution 1701, UNIFIL's mandate was expanded, giving it new duties:[8]

Monitor the cessation of hostilities.
Accompany and support the Lebanese armed forces as they deploy throughout the South, including along the Blue Line, as Israel withdraws its armed forces from Lebanon.
Coordinate its activities referred to in the preceding paragraph (above) with the Government of Lebanon and the Government of Israel.
Extend its assistance to help ensure humanitarian access to civilian populations and the voluntary and safe return of displaced persons.
Assist the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) in taking steps towards the establishment between the Blue Line and the Litani river of an area free of any armed personnel, assets and weapons other than those of the Government of Lebanon and of UNIFIL deployed in this area.
Assist the Government of Lebanon, at its request, in securing its borders and other entry points to prevent the entry in Lebanon without its consent of arms or related materiel.
In addition, UNIFIL was also authorized to:

take all necessary action in areas of deployment of its forces and as it deems within its capabilities, to ensure that its area of operations is not utilized for hostile activities of any kind, to resist attempts by forceful means to prevent it from discharging its duties under the mandate of the Security Council, and to protect United Nations personnel, facilities, installations and equipment, ensure the security and freedom of movement of United Nations personnel, humanitarian workers and, without prejudice to the responsibility of the Government of Lebanon, to protect civilians under imminent threat of physical violence.[9]"

 

 

[Chomper Higgot]

18 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

Rubbish, its an opinion based on fact. 

Sorry Brian.

 

The OP, which is itself an opinion piece, provides a description of the UNFIL mission which is a false, simplistic and misleading.

 

I have provided a link to the actual UNFIL mission.

 

Feel free to de-read the OP’s description of the UNFIL mission and the actual mission given in the link I provided.

 

[Bkk Brian]

47 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Sorry Brian.

 

The OP, which is itself an opinion piece, provides a description of the UNFIL mission which is a false, simplistic and misleading.

 

I have provided a link to the actual UNFIL mission.

 

Feel free to de-read the OP’s description of the UNFIL mission and the actual mission given in the link I provided.

 

No need to apologize to me. An opinion piece based on facts. 

[Chomper Higgot]

18 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

No need to apologize to me. An opinion piece based on facts. 

You asked of an agreed with the opinion piece, I’ve explained why I do not.

 

I’ll trust that will suffice.

[Bkk Brian]

5 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

You asked of an agreed with the opinion piece, I’ve explained why I do not.

 

I’ll trust that will suffice.

The opinion piece is based on facts. You don't agree with it. Yes the will suffice

[Chomper Higgot]

Just now, Bkk Brian said:

The opinion piece is based on facts. You don't agree with it. Yes the will suffice

It’s an opinion piece, and Brian It’s an option piece you yourself asked me for my option on.

 

Opinions differ.

The author has expressed their opinion and I have expressed mine.

 

Thank you for asking for my opinion, but it is not conditional on your acceptance.

[Bkk Brian]

46 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

It’s an opinion piece, and Brian It’s an option piece you yourself asked me for my option on.

 

Opinions differ.

The author has expressed their opinion and I have expressed mine.

 

Thank you for asking for my opinion, but it is not conditional on your acceptance.

You are the one claiming its  "it starts with a false, simplistic and misleading premise:"

 

The reason you give is because of the link you provided. What is false and misleading about it? What facts that the opinion is based on would change due to that link and the UN Mission. How does that fit in with the UN mandate?

[coolcarer]

Complete failure with a massive ongoing budget................

 

In the 18 years since the adoption of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701, UNIFIL has been an abject failure, allowing Hezbollah to rearm and entrench itself in southern Lebanon, setting the stage for the current conflict in the process. Moreover, it has done so with international support and American largesse. Last year, the U.S. appropriated $143 million to UNIFIL for 2023, amounting to about one-quarter of the force’s total budget of $507 million.

https://thehill.com/opinion/international/4937125-unifil-failure-lebanon-hezbollah/