India has called for ensuring the safety and protection of United Nations peacekeepers in Lebanon, as tensions escalate between Israel and the militant group Hezbollah following the fallout of the Iran–Israel conflict.
India currently contributes 642 personnel to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), making it the second-largest contingent in the 7,438-member peacekeeping mission.
About UNIFIL
The UNIFIL mission was established in 1978 by the United Nations to:
- Monitor the cessation of hostilities between Israel and Lebanon
- Assist the Lebanon government in restoring authority in southern Lebanon
Security Situation
According to Jean-Pierre Lacroix, UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, the mission is currently operating in a “dangerous and precarious environment.”
He informed the United Nations Security Council that since March 1, UNIFIL has recorded 4,120 projectile “trajectories” from both sides of the Blue Line, the UN-monitored line separating Israel and Lebanon.
He added that Hezbollah has carried out daily strikes across the Blue Line using rockets, missiles, and drones, targeting areas in Israel and the Golan Heights.
What is the Blue Line?
The Blue Line is a 120-km UN-verified withdrawal line established in 2000 to confirm Israel’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon. It functions as a temporary boundary rather than a formal international border between the two countries.
Source: DD India
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