Safety, security of UN peacekeepers ‘increasingly in jeopardy,': UN official

By Merve Aydogan

HAMILTON, Canada (AA) - The UN official for peace operations emphasized Thursday the "serious risk" peacekeepers face in Lebanon amid Israel's continued attacks.

Jean-Pierre Lacroix said at a UN Security Council session on Lebanon that the “safety and security’ of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) is "now increasingly in jeopardy."

Much of southern Lebanon, which is also "UNIFIL’s area of operations, is now uninhabited and increasingly uninhabitable" due to Israel's intense bombardment, he said. "Israel’s stated aim is the return of inhabitants to their northern communities after one year of fear, one year of displacement."

Citing UNIFIL's report on Israeli incursions with infantry, tanks and engineering vehicles against Lebanon's territory, Lacroix said: "This situation has put our peacekeepers at serious risk."

"Our peacekeepers have remained in position, in line with the mandate this Council has provided, while continuously reassessing the force’s posture against prevailing risks," he said, adding that "the safety and security of peacekeepers is now increasingly in jeopardy."

He noted that "UNIFIL operational activities have virtually come to a halt since 23 September," with an escalation of hostilities.