Mister President,
Members of the Security Council,
As you just heard from Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo, the fragile situation that prevailed since November 2024 has given way to a significant escalation of hostilities. We are gravely concerned that there will be a further worsening of the situation in Lebanon and in the region.
In this dangerous and precarious environment, UNIFIL remains on the ground implementing its mandate as far as the security circumstances allow.
Since 2 March, when Hizbullah claimed responsibility for an attack on Israel, the group has carried out daily strikes across the Blue Line, including with rockets, missiles and drones at targets in Israel and the occupied Syrian Golan. Many rockets s have been launched from south of the Litani River, which demonstrates the presence of unauthorised armed personnel, assets and weapons south of the Litani River, in clear violation of resolution 1701.
The Israel Defense Forces have issued displacement orders for the entire UNIFIL area of operations and intensified daily strikes, impacting multiple locations in the UNIFIL area of operations, also in clear violation of resolution 1701.
Since 1 March, UNIFIL has reported some 4,120 trajectories, including 2,733 from south to north of the Blue Line and 323 air attacks by the Israel Defense Forces. In this same period, UNIFIL has recorded 1,387 trajectories from north to south. Notably, each trajectory may represent multiple projectiles and UNIFIL cannot detect some projectiles, such as those fired by portable anti-tank launchers or light weapons. On 9 March alone, UNIFIL recorded 159 air violations, the highest number observed in a 24-hour period since the resumption of hostilities.
The Israel Defense Forces have also reinforced the five positions at which they have maintained a presence north of the Blue Line.
UNIFIL has observed incursions by Israel Defense Forces units into Lebanon at several locations, including through Yarun in Sector West, and Hula, Khiyam and Markaba in Sector East. On 9 March, one Israel Defense Forces tank was observed near Kunin in south-east Lebanon, seven kilometres north of the Blue Line. Direct clashes between Hizbullah and Israel Defense Forces inside Lebanon have been reported, including in Hula and Khiyam on 4 March. Extensive buildup of Israeli military assets south of the Blue Line also continues to be reported.
There have been several incidents that have jeopardized the safety and security of our peacekeepers. On 6 March, a peacekeeper from the Ghanaian contingent was severely injured inside their base in Al Qawzah, Sector West. He is being treated at a hospital in Beirut and is now in a serious but stable condition. Several other peacekeepers were injured, less seriously, while the base was heavily damaged in the resulting fires. We wish a speedy recovery to all involved. A UNIFIL investigation is ongoing, including to determine the origin of the projectiles or munitions that impacted the UN position.
On 7 March, an Israel Defense Forces tank stopped in front of a UNIFIL Observation Post near Markaba in Sector East. Subsequently the peacekeepers heard multiple rounds of small arms fire and two of the post’s perimeter lights were damaged. On 8 March, two loud explosions were heard near UNIFIL headquarters in Naqoura. Debris consistent with a drone or rocket, as well as remnants of an Iron Dome interception, fell inside the UNIFIL camp. No injuries were reported.
Our peacekeepers have remained in position, in line with the mandate this Council has provided, while continuously reassessing the force’s posture against prevailing risks. UNIFIL continues to maintain constant contact with the parties to avoid misunderstandings, de-conflict and de-escalate where possible All parties bear a clear and unequivocal responsibility to ensure the safety and security of UN peacekeepers. We call on all actors on the ground to uphold this obligation and to refrain from any action that endangers UNIFIL personnel.
With the ongoing exchanges of fire severely restricting their movements, UNIFIL’s current focus includes ensuring safety of its personnel and helping facilitate humanitarian access to affected communities in the area. UNIFIL has supported the local community in line with its protection of civilians mandate, transporting dozens of civilians to safety from several villages in southern Lebanon, including children, older persons and persons with disabilities, in close coordination with local authorities. On 7 March, UNIFIL assisted in evacuating three families from Sarda in Sector East. On 10 March, at the request of the municipality of Alma al-Shab in Sector West, UNIFIL facilitated the safe movement of around 80 civilians who wished to leave the area.
Peacekeepers have largely been confined to their bases with some spending significant periods of time in shelter, which seriously impedes UNIFIL’s freedom of movement and limits the Mission’s monitoring and reporting ability. Troop rotations are currently suspended. This security environment has also presented challenges for the resupply of fuel, food and water for UN positions. Roadblocks erected by the Israel Defense Forces have restricted access to a number of our positions.
The UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander is coordinating closely with the Special Coordinator for Lebanon, who is the Designated Official for security for all United Nations personnel in Lebanon. Programme-essential UNIFIL civilian personnel have been moved to reside in UNIFIL headquarters at Naqoura. Other international civilian personnel are relocating out of the south Litani sector, in some cases out of Lebanon. The Mission is assisting our national colleagues who wish to relocate to the north Litani sector.
The Lebanese Armed Forces had made significant efforts since the cessation of hostilities in November 2024, steadily reinforcing their presence in the south and progressively extending their deployment along the Blue Line. We commend these efforts, which represented an important step toward the full implementation of resolution 1701. However, in the face of the current hostilities, the Lebanese Armed Forces have had to temporarily relocate some 20 kilometres north of the Blue Line.
Mister President,
As noted by Under Secretary-General DiCarlo, and as you will hear in more detail from Under Secretary-General Fletcher, the heavy exchanges of fire have most tragically had the greatest impact on civilians on both sides of the Blue Line, with many casualties and hundreds of thousands displaced in Lebanon. In southern Lebanon, the humanitarian situation continues to worsen, with IDP shelters reporting near full occupancy and lacking means to meet basic needs.
UNIFIL’s liaison and coordination team has continued its close engagements with the Lebanese Armed Forces and Israel Defense Forces, seeking to de-escalate and facilitate humanitarian missions. In the past week, UNIFIL has facilitated dozens of missions by the Lebanese Red Cross. In the interests of the safety of both peacekeepers and civilians we urge the parties to commit to active deconfliction through this channel.
To those Member States contributing troops to UNIFIL, we extend our most sincere gratitude. The continued, united commitment of the troop-contributing-countries, as well as the continued, united support of this Council is crucial. I express solidarity with, and pride in, the men and women of UNIFIL, again on the front lines. Only a political solution will bring lasting stability to Lebanon and the region. We urge all parties to recommit to the full implementation of resolution 1701 and to engage constructively toward that end.
Thank you.