Press releases and statements

Ramadan should be a time of peace and reflection, but the current situation along the Blue Line has deeply affected these notions. For the end of Ramadan, on the occasion of Eid El Fitr, UNIFIL calls for a return to the cessation of hostilities, and a move towards a permanent ceasefire and a long…

It is six months since the exchanges of fire across the Blue Line began, and continue unabated, taking a heavy toll on both sides. The lives of thousands of people have been profoundly affected. Tens of civilians have tragically lost their lives while many more have lost their homes, their…

This morning, three OGL (UNTSO) military observers and one Lebanese language assistant on a foot patrol along the Blue Line were injured when an explosion occurred near their location. They have now been evacuated for medical treatment. OGL (UNTSO) observers support UNIFIL in implementing our…

UNIFIL is very concerned over the surge of violence occurring across the Blue Line right now. This escalation has caused a high number of civilian deaths and the destruction of homes and livelihoods. It is imperative that this escalation cease immediately. We urge all sides to put down their weapons…

As UNIFIL marked the 46th anniversary of its establishment today, its leadership renewed calls for all actors to put down their weapons, recommit to Security Council Resolution 1701, and work toward a political and diplomatic solution. “Resolution 1701 has been challenged by current events, but it…

Over the past days we have seen a concerning shift in the exchanges of fire. This conflict has already claimed too many lives and caused significant damage to houses and public infrastructure. It has jeopardized the livelihoods and changed the life of tens of thousands of civilians on both sides of…

United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix concluded a four-day visit to Lebanon yesterday. This was part of a regular visit to peacekeeping missions in the Middle East, though it came in the context of high tension along the Blue Line between Lebanon and Israel…

Last night, a peacekeeper was hurt after a patrol was attacked by a group of young men in Taybeh, south Lebanon. A vehicle was also damaged. Attacks on men and women serving the cause of peace are not only condemnable, but they are violations of Resolution 1701 and Lebanese law. Peacekeepers’…

On Saturday, at around 10 pm, two mortar shells hit a UNIFIL base in the vicinity of the village of Houla, resulting in the injury of one peacekeeper who was promptly evacuated for medical treatment. The peacekeeper sustained minor injuries, he was immediately evacuated to the hospital at UNIFIL…

Today, at approximately 3 pm, a shell landed inside UNIFIL headquarters in Naqoura. Fortunately, it did not explode and no one was hurt, but our base was damaged. The shell has been removed and we are working to ascertain the origin of the attack. This is not the first time a shell hit our…