Presumed Hezbollah Rocket Injures Several UN Peacekeepers

Latest Developments

Several members of the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon, known as UNIFIL, were injured in a presumed Hezbollah rocket attack on October 29. Following the attack, UNIFIL released a statement reminding “Hizballah and all parties of their obligations to ensure the safety and security of UN personnel and property.”

On October 11, two UNIFIL peacekeepers were injured when the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) targeted terrorists operating near a UNIFIL installation. The IDF released a statement after the event claiming that the Israeli forces identified an “immediate threat” approximately 50 meters away from the UNIFIL post and responded with fire. The statement went on to explain that UNIFIL personnel chose not to comply with earlier IDF instructions to remain in protected spaces. Following the incident, France, Italy, and Spain accused the IDF of “targeting” the peacekeeping troops.

Earlier in October, the IDF requested that UNIFIL evacuate from southern Lebanon to remove the peacekeepers out of harm’s way. The president of Ireland, whose country has troops in Lebanon as part of UNIFIL, dismissed the request as “outrageous” and accused the IDF of threatening the peacekeeping forces.

Established in 1978, UNIFIL’s mandate has been expanded multiple times. Today, UNIFIL is a force of over 10,000 with an annual budget of more than $500 million. In 2006, following Israel’s second war with Lebanon, the United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 1701, which instructed the peacekeeping force to assist the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) in clearing southern Lebanon of Hezbollah weapons and fighters. But UNIFIL and the LAF failed to achieve this task, while Hezbollah’s military presence and capabilities ballooned.

Expert Analysis

“Under the nose of UNIFIL, Hezbollah built a formidable terror infrastructure in southern Lebanon. Now the terrorists are using the feckless peacekeepers as human shields as Israel tries to demilitarize the region — the very job that UNIFIL has failed to accomplish.” — Enia Krivine, Senior Director of FDD’s Israel Program and National Security Network

“The rocket that struck the UNIFL compound came from a Hezbollah launch site in southern Lebanon. The attack, and many other similar incidents before it, demonstrate that UNIFIL has not been able to fulfill its mandate to keep southern Lebanon free of weapons and armed personnel. As it stands, UNIFIL is falling short of its obligations, and if Resolution 1701 is to be effectively enforced, alternative measures must be considered.” — Joe Truzman, Senior Research Analyst and Editor at FDD’s Long War Journal

“UNIFIL’s mandate was upgraded pursuant to Resolution 1701, which assigned the force to support the Lebanese government and army in pushing Hezbollah north of the Litani River as a preliminary step to disarming the group. Lebanon, however, refuses to fulfill its obligations, due to a lack of capability and, more importantly, will. Lebanon’s inaction undermined UNIFIL’s mandate, leaving the peacekeeping force stranded amidst the fallout from Lebanon’s failure to impose its monopoly on force throughout its territory.” — David Daoud, Senior Fellow

Related Analysis

“Israel Shouldn’t Suffer from the UN’s Failure in Lebanon,” by Enia Krivine and Ben Cohen

“Israel Demolishes Massive Hezbollah Underground Bunker in Southern Lebanon,” FDD Flash Brief

“At Least Two Killed in Hezbollah Rocket Attack on Israeli Arab Town,” FDD Flash Brief