'Israel's' violations threaten South Lebanon stability: UNIFIL Chief
2 Min Read
UNIFIL Commander Lt. Gen. Aroldo Lázaro warns of fragile stability in southern Lebanon due to ongoing Israeli violations, hindering Lebanese army deployment and the return of displaced civilians.
-
Flames rise from a metal tent hit by an Israeli airstrike on Dahiyeh in the southern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, April 27, 2025. (AP)
The situation in UNIFIL’s area of operations in southern Lebanon, which lies between the Litani River and the Blue Line, remains fragile due to repeated Israeli violations, according to Lt. Gen. Aroldo Lázaro, head of the UNIFIL mission in Lebanon.
In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Lázaro said that the current stability has been fragile since the November 27 agreement to halt hostilities, as "Israel's" continued military activities have blocked the full deployment of the Lebanese army and delayed the return of thousands of displaced civilians.
Although the ceasefire is still in effect, the Israeli military continues to operate within Lebanese territory, and Lázaro confirmed that UNIFIL has filed both official and public protests regarding this ongoing presence.
Ceasefire Under Resolution 1701 Remains at Risk
Lázaro explained that the repeated Israeli military operations in southern Lebanon are in clear violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which directly hinders the Lebanese army’s ability to redeploy and prevents displaced people from returning safely.
UNIFIL's mission is focused on observing and reporting all violations of Resolution 1701, and while the force supports the November 2024 ceasefire understanding, it is not responsible for enforcing that agreement, even though there is significant overlap between its mandate and the incidents tied to the ceasefire.
He stated that a lasting ceasefire between Hezbollah and "Israel" is possible if there is enough political will to implement Resolution 1701 in full and emphasized that a sincere commitment from all sides could bring about a permanent end to hostilities.
Since the ceasefire began, UNIFIL has recorded over 2,600 airspace violations, 1,400 instances of Israeli military activity north of the Blue Line, more than 60 airstrikes and drone attacks, and upwards of 750 artillery shelling incidents, according to Lázaro.
He also reiterated his call for "Israel" to withdraw from all remaining occupied Lebanese territories and highlighted that UNIFIL continues to work in close coordination with the Lebanese army, which is actively strengthening its forces and redeploying units in the south.
