Israel advises UN peacekeepers in Lebanon 'relocate 5 kilometers north to avoid danger'

By Merve Aydogan

HAMILTON, Canada (AA) - Israel announced on Thursday that it has recommended the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) "relocate five kilometers north to avoid danger as fighting intensifies" after the Israeli army fired artillery on positions of peacekeepers in Lebanon.

"We are focused on fighting Hezbollah terrorists. Our dialogue and coordination with UNIFIL will continue in southern Lebanon," said Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon in a statement.

Saying that Israel has advised the UN peacekeepers to relocate, Danon also said "the situation along the Blue Line remains volatile as a result of Hezbollah’s aggression."

"Israel has no desire to be in Lebanon, but it will do what is necessary to force Hezbollah terrorists away from its northern border so that our 70,000 residents, who are refugees in their own country, can safely return to their homes," he added.

In response to his statement, UN spokesman Farhan Haq told a news conference that UNIFIL has "mandated tasks."

Haq said there had been previous requests for the relocation of UNIFIL, adding that they would continue to review the security situation.

"While we continue to assess the safety and security of our peacekeeping forces, it's important that they also fulfill their mandate," he said, affirming that the UNIFIL is staying in position.

Saying that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres believes UNIFIL continuing its mandate is "vital," Haq also said Guterres deems the peacekeeping mission a stabilizing force in southern Lebanon.

Earlier the UNIFIL said that its headquarters in Naqoura and other sites have been repeatedly shelled by Israeli forces, leaving two peacekeepers injured.

Israel has mounted massive airstrikes across Lebanon against what it claims are Hezbollah targets since Sept. 23, killing at least 1,323 people, injuring over 3,700 others, and displacing more than 1.2 million people.

The aerial campaign was an escalation in year of cross-border warfare between Israel and Hezbollah since the start of Tel Aviv’s offensive on the Gaza Strip that has killed over 42,000 people, mostly women and children, since a Hamas attack last year.

Despite international warnings that the Middle East was on the brink of a regional war amid Israel’s relentless attacks on Gaza and Lebanon, Tel Aviv expanded the conflict on Oct. 1 by launching a ground invasion into southern Lebanon.