Hezbollah has not lost its influence in southern Lebanon, and UNIFIL continues to be irrelevant. In two recent incidents, local residents prevented UNIFIL from carrying out its role in supporting the enforcement of Resolution 1701. In incidents that occurred in Tayr Debba (western sector) and Jmaijmeh (eastern sector), local residents, acting on behalf of Hezbollah, were seen blocking UNIFIL soldiers, effectively forcing them to retreat. In Tayr Debba, young men on motorcycles blocked UNIFIL vehicles, mocked them, showed them disrespect, and even hurled curses at them. In the second incident, In Jmaijmeh, UNIFIL soldiers are accused by locals of collaborating with Israel. For years, Hezbollah has cultivated the false narrative that UNIFIL collaborates with Israel and, in effect, carries out intelligence missions against Hezbollah on Israel’s behalf. In both incidents, residents told UNIFIL that they could only enter with the Lebanese army. This is a recurring statement in such incidents, familiar even from before the war. In our assessment, this statement stems from a directive by Hezbollah to the residents, as Hezbollah believes it can more conveniently coordinate “enforcement” activities with the Lebanese army.
On April 29, in Bint Jbeil. Another incident where UNIFIL vehicles were blocked and stopped by locals, who shouted at UNIFIL soldiers not to enter the area without the Lebanese army.
Another incident occured on May 1, several residents at the Al-Abbasiya junction in the city of Tyre opposed a UNIFIL patrol as it passed between residential buildings, claiming it was without the accompaniment of the Lebanese army.
