The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has cautioned that southern Lebanon remains in a state of “fragile stability", urging all parties to avoid actions that could reignite hostilities and to reaffirm their commitment to UN Security Council Resolution 1701.

Resolution 1701 was reached in the wake of the 2006 Israeli aggression on Lebanon. It calls for the full cessation of hostilities and the deployment of the Lebanese Army to Southern Lebanon, as well as the establishment of a demilitarized zone between the Blue Line and the Litani River.

In a written interview for Xinhua, UNIFIL spokesperson Tilak Pokharel described the situation along the Blue Line as one of cautious calm since the "cessation of hostilities" between “Israel” and Lebanon in November 2024. While the truce effectively ended active exchanges of fire, Pokharel said persistent violations continue to strain the delicate balance that has held for nearly a year.

“There is an urgent need to avoid any further escalation,” he stressed. “Continued violations risk undermining the progress the parties have made toward restoring stability. UNIFIL stands ready to support them in upholding Resolution 1701.”

Pokharel said the mission’s current focus revolves around three key objectives: maintaining stability along the Blue Line, supporting the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) in their redeployment, and strengthening the presence of the Lebanese state throughout the south. Despite tangible progress in several areas, he acknowledged that major challenges persist.

Tensions along the Blue Line

According to Pokharel, with UNIFIL’s assistance, the LAF has established more than 120 permanent positions in the area between the Litani River and the Blue Line since November 2024. However, he emphasized that “Israel’s” military activities north of the Blue Line remain a principal source of tension.

He maintained that "the mere presence" of the IOF, "north of the Blue Line constitutes a violation of Resolution 1701."

He noted that the mission has recorded nearly 7,000 air violations and over 2,400 military activities north of the Blue Line since the truce, including air and ground incursions into Lebanese territory, actions that, he warned, “undermine efforts to stabilize the border region.”

Growing risks to peacekeepers

Pokharel also pointed to a troubling increase in attacks against UN personnel.

“In October alone, UNIFIL personnel and assets were the targets of Israeli drone and grenade attacks three times,” he said.

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He added that peacekeepers had also been subjected to laser pointing and other forms of aggression, including deliberate attempts to block their movements.

Last month, UNIFIL announced that its troops had shot down an Israeli military drone that flew “in an aggressive manner” over one of its patrols in the Kfar Kila area near the southern border.

According to the Israeli occupation, the unmanned aircraft was conducting a "routine surveillance mission" when UN peacekeepers “opened fire on the device and downed it.” The Israeli occupation forces claimed that the drone had posed “no threat” to UNIFIL personnel.

In a statement, UNIFIL said its troops “applied necessary defensive countermeasures to neutralize the drone,” describing the device’s flight path as hostile and a clear violation of Lebanese sovereignty.

Pattern of aggression

UNIFIL has repeatedly documented Israeli aggression and intimidation tactics against its forces in southern Lebanon.

In May 2025, UNIFIL reported that Israeli gunfire struck one of its positions near Kfar Chouba, marking the first direct hit on a UN facility since the November 2024 cessation of hostilities. The same month, peacekeepers recorded incidents of Israeli drones shadowing patrols and laser beams directed from IOF tanks at UN vehicles operating near the border.

A few months earlier, in October 2024, UN and media reports confirmed that Israeli artillery fire hit a UNIFIL base in Naqoura, wounding at least two peacekeepers and damaging observation posts. France, Italy, and Spain, three major troop contributors to the mission, issued a joint statement condemning the strikes as a "serious violation" of international law and UNSC Resolution 1701.

UNIFIL records also show earlier patterns of aggression, including a 2017 series of incidents in which Israeli occupation forces blocked UN patrol routes and engaged in physical threats and harassment of peacekeepers attempting to monitor Israeli aggression along the Blue Line.

The latest aggressions come amid a wave of Israeli attacks on southern Lebanese towns. On Thursday, an invading Israeli unit consisting of several military vehicles infiltrated the border town of Blida in southern Lebanon at dawn, breaking into the town's temporary municipal building.

The incursion was accompanied by Israeli drones flying over the town, and gunfire was heard during the raid. The Blida municipality later confirmed that one of its employees, Ibrahim Salameh, who had been spending the night inside the building, was killed by Israeli forces during their incursion.

According to the municipality, the occupation forces shot Salameh in his sleep, massacring him.

Liaison, demining, and preparations for drawdown

At the operational level, UNIFIL continues to engage both the LAF and the Israeli occupation forces through liaison channels designed to “deconflict tensions” and address any misunderstandings before they escalate.

Pokharel also highlighted ongoing demining efforts in southern Lebanon.

He further confirmed that following the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2790 in August, which extended UNIFIL’s mandate for a final time until December 31, 2026, the mission has begun preparing for an eventual handover of responsibilities to Lebanese authorities.

Pokharel said contingency plans are already in place for various scenarios, including the possibility of renewed instability.

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