This aid involves coordinating and delivering humanitarian aid, he explained, speaking from the force’s headquarters in Naqoura, southwestern Lebanon.
Peacekeepers have also helped relocate civilians to safer areas upon request. and continue to conduct patrols to monitor the situation and provide peace of mind to those who remain.
Battlefield
During our interview with Ms. Ardiel, gunshots were heard in the background.
An estimated 2,000 villagers still live near the Blue Line. that separates Israel from Lebanon.
“These villages are obviously in a very difficult situation. They are increasingly isolated from the rest of Lebanon and are having difficulty getting supplies,” Ms. Ardiel explained. “So there are agencies that are helping to bring them food, medicine and hygiene supplies in the south, and UNIFIL is helping to coordinate their movements to ensure that they can safely get to the places they need to go.”
In addition to recording rocket and missile fire, the UN mission has reported Israeli troop movements in southern Lebanon and frequent violations of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, a critical UN Security Council text adopted in 2006 that calls for a complete cessation of hostilities..
Read our Resolution 1701 explainer here.
“We have seen many Israeli incursions into southern Lebanon in different areas, including near our headquarters in Naqoura,” Ms. Ardiel said. “About a week ago and in the last few days we witnessed very violent battles that we could hear.”
Commitment of peacekeepers
Ms. Ardiel emphasized that unless the mandate of the Security Council changes to UNIFIL, The peacekeepers are determined to stay and continue their mission.: “Unfortunately, this is not the first time that one of our positions has suffered damage, attacks and damage due to ongoing violence.”
Point of impact
The UNIFIL headquarters has been visibly damaged by bullets, shrapnel and rockets, while Israeli military operations have been observed in multiple areas, in Naqoura and further east.
“This is, of course, a violation of Resolution 1701. Every projectile that is fired, every bullet, are also violations, which come from both sides constantly,” stressed the UNIFIL spokesperson.
“It is extremely dangerous for peacekeepers to operate at this time,” Ardiel concluded, “but this is something we are doing to help protect civilians who choose to remain in southern Lebanon.”