This November, Under-Secretary-General for UN Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix concluded a four-day visit to peacekeeping missions in the Middle East. While this visit was part of Mr. Lacroix’s regular engagement with peacekeeping missions, it occurred at a particularly volatile time for Lebanon and its neighboring countries and when several significant security incidents have impacted peacekeepers in the region [1][2][3][4][5].
“I remain concerned about ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli Defense Forces. … Peacekeepers report continued clashes, exchange of fire as well as air strikes,” stated Mr. Lacroix. “We remind all parties of their obligation to ensure the safety and security of UN personnel, property, and to respect the inviolability of United Nations premises at all times.”
During his visit to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in Naqoura, Mr. Lacroix met with mission leadership and thanked peacekeepers for their commitment under challenging conditions. He visited multiple positions along the Blue Line, a 120km line of withdrawal between Israel and Lebanon monitored and patrolled by UNIFIL, where he engaged with peacekeepers and offered support for their continued efforts in de-escalating tensions in southern Lebanon.
In Beirut, Mr. Lacroix met with senior Lebanese officials, including caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, caretaker Minister of Foreign Affairs Abullah Bou Habib, caretaker Minister of Defense, Maurice Sleem, Lebanese Armed Forces Commander General Joseph Aoun, and members of the diplomatic corps in Lebanon. In these discussions, Mr. Lacroix highlighted UNIFIL’s commitment to the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which seeks to end hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel.
UNIFIL personnel remain committed to their peacekeeping mandate, monitoring and reporting on violations of resolution 1701 while continuing to operate in highly challenging conditions. Mr. Lacroix concluded his visit by expressing gratitude to peacekeepers for their dedication and contributions to the UN’s peace efforts.
“I met with several of our peacekeepers who had been injured in a number of incidents, I met with Sri Lankan peacekeepers, Indonesian and Austrian peacekeepers, and thankfully, they're all doing well. They have recovered. I was really impressed by their resilience, their commitment, their dedication to the duty. And I found it really heartening and very moving to see that there is such a degree of commitment from our colleagues in UNIFIL,” the Under-Secretary-General stated.
Following his visit to Lebanon, Mr. Lacroix traveled to Israel to visit the UN Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO), which was established to supervise the implementation of the 1949 Israeli-Arab Armistice Agreements. Together with UNTSO’s Head of Mission, he met with senior officials of Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Head of Israel Defense Force (IDF) International Cooperation Division and the IDF Northern Commander in Jerusalem and in the northern city of Metula at the Blue Line, where he reiterated calls to uphold the centrality of resolution 1701.
Following his visit, Mr. Lacroix briefed the media at UN Headquarters in New York. "We all hope that the diplomatic efforts that are currently ongoing [will] lead to a positive outcome,” he said. “We're also looking at how UNIFIL could potentially play a role in supporting the return of the civilian population and the rebuilding efforts,” Mr. Lacroix concluded.
Watch the full briefing: