Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called on the UN Secretary-General to immediately withdraw UN peacekeepers from southern Lebanon, citing concerns for their safety amidst escalating tensions with Hezbollah. This comes after Israeli fire injured five UNIFIL members, with the peacekeeping force refusing to relocate from its positions along the Lebanese border.
Despite its initial mandate to ensure a buffer zone free of unauthorised militias, UNIFIL has failed to curb Hezbollah’s growing influence and military presence in Southern Lebanon. This failure is attributed to a combination of factors: Hezbollah’s dominance, the Lebanese Armed Forces’ subservience to Hezbollah, and UNIFIL’s limited mandate. The article explores the challenges facing UNIFIL and analyzes the potential consequences of its continued presence in a region where its effectiveness is increasingly questioned.
