Lebanese Army resumes patrols with UNIFIL after 'trespassing incident'
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The incident in Kfar Hamam involves the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon trespassing on private property.
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An armored vehicle of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) patrols the southern Lebanese border area of Marjayoun on August 8, 2024. (AFP)
Joint patrols between the Lebanese Army and the United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon (UNIFIL) have resumed after clarifications regarding an incident in a southern Lebanese town, Al Mayadeen's correspondent reported, citing a security source.
Earlier on Saturday, our correspondent said that a UNIFIL patrol entered private property in the village of Kfar Hamam in southern Lebanon.
He mentioned that the Lebanese Army vehicle that was accompanying the UNIFIL patrol withdrew due to the trespassing incident.
Consequently, the Lebanese Army instantly suspended its joint patrols with UNIFIL following the Kfar Hamam incident, he added.
It is worth noting that Israeli occupation aircraft targeted the same location in the southern town after the UNIFIL patrol left the area.
Elsewhere, Al Mayadeen's correspondent noted that the patrol violated established protocols by entering private property.
It is noteworthy that last year, the United Nations Security Council extended UNIFIL's mandate for another year, following a contentious debate over the troops' freedom of movement.
Operational since 1978, UNIFIL is charged with maintaining a "buffer zone" between the Israeli occupation forces in northern occupied Palestine and Lebanon.
The force was significantly expanded in 2006 after the 34-day war between the Lebanese Resistance and "Israel", with the responsibility of overseeing the ceasefire between the two sides.
The renewed mandate closely mirrored the 2022 agreement, particularly regarding the freedom of movement for the approximately 10,000 troops stationed in Lebanon, a point of contention with the Lebanese government.
The mandate text urged "all parties... to ensure that the freedom of movement of UNIFIL in all its operations and UNIFIL's access to the Blue Line in all its parts is fully respected and unimpeded."
The Blue Line refers to the boundary established by the UN in 2000, following the withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces from southern Lebanon.
The mandate further stated that "UNIFIL does not require prior authorization or permission to undertake its mandated tasks and... UNIFIL is authorized to conduct its operation independently, while continuing to coordinate with the Government of Lebanon."
Hezbollah Secreatary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah had voiced opposition to the renewal of the 2022 UNIFIL terms, questioning the sovereignty of allowing a foreign armed force to operate in Lebanon without the government's or the Lebanese army's authorization and coordination.
He also pointed out that some sides want to turn UNIFIL into spies for the Israeli occupation.
In a letter to the United Nations, the Lebanese government also expressed a preference for returning to the 2021 mandate terms, which placed less emphasis on UNIFIL's independent movement.
Lebanon's UN representative, Jeanne Mrad, acknowledged that the updated mandate did not fully address Lebanon's concerns.
Read more: UN Secretary-General condemns attack on UNIFIL in Lebanon
