UN peacekeepers will keep in all their positions in Lebanon regardless of the calls made by Israeli authorities to vacate the positions which can be within the neighborhood of the Blue Line between Lebanon and Israel, the UN Peacekeeping Chief mentioned. “The choice was made that UNIFIL (UN Interim Power in Lebanon) would presently keep in all its positions despite the calls that have been made by the Israel Protection Forces to vacate the positions which can be within the neighborhood of the Blue Line,” mentioned Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the UN under-secretary-general for peace operations, after briefing the Safety Council on Monday on the state of affairs in Lebanon.
“I need to emphasise that this choice nonetheless stays,” he mentioned, including that the choice was confirmed earlier on Monday by UN Secretary-Basic Antonio Guterres, and was fastidiously thought of based mostly on “quite a few components and standards”. “In fact, the protection and safety of the peacekeepers is a paramount precedence,” mentioned Lacroix as reported by Xinhua information company.
In the meantime, the UN Safety Council on Monday expressed its sturdy concern over the continued hostilities throughout the Blue Line. “In opposition to the backdrop of the continued hostilities alongside the Blue Line, the members of the Safety Council expressed their sturdy concern after a number of UNIFIL positions underneath fireplace up to now days,” mentioned Pascale Baeriswyl, president of the Safety Council for October and everlasting consultant of Switzerland to the United Nations.
“A number of peacekeepers have been wounded,” she mentioned in a press release after closed-door Safety Council consultations. The members of the Safety Council urged all events to respect the protection and safety of UNIFIL personnel and UN premises, reiterating their assist for the mission, and underscoring its position in supporting for regional stability, she added.
Baeriswyl famous that the council members expressed their deepest concern over civilian casualties and sufferings, the destruction of civilian infrastructure, and the rising variety of internally displaced individuals.
They referred to as on all events to abide by worldwide humanitarian regulation, referred to as for the complete implementation of Safety Council decision 1701, and emphasised the necessity for “diplomatic endeavours that may convey a sturdy finish” to the battle and permit civilians on each side of the Blue Line to return safely to their houses, she added.
