In the coming days, the UN will reaffirm UNIFIL’s mandate in southern #Lebanon. Do the countries participating in the vote understand that UNIFIL’s current operation and size are no longer relevant in the existing format? On August 20, an incident occurred between the Lebanese and the #UNIFIL forces in the Odaisseh – Marjayoun area.
The Lebanese shot fireworks towards the border line with Israel and UNIFIL arrived to keep them away. In response, the Lebanese waved Hezbollah flags, threateningly surrounded the UNIFIL vehicles, and physically confronted the UNIFIL soldiers. Hezbollah did not allow, does not allow, and will not allow UNIFIL to exercise its mandate effectively. UNIFIL is not relevant in its current form.
They chase them, threaten them, burn their vehicles, and take their weapons and equipment. This incident from the village of Majdal Zon happened about five years ago, but it tells the story of #UNIFIL in southern #Lebanon even today: UNIFIL cannot and does not want to face #Hezbollah…
