New Delhi:
India has expressed grave “concern” over the abysmal battle scenario in West Asia as Israel intensifies its resolve concentrating on Hezbollah hideouts. New Delhi issued an announcement as we speak after UN peacekeepers stationed in south Lebanon got here beneath fireplace from Israeli forces.
Among the many UN peacekeepers stationed in Lebanon, there are roughly 900 Indian troopers. It is very important word that they weren’t on the United Nations Interim Power In Lebanon or UNIFIL headquarters on the time it was attacked by Israeli forces. Moreover the troopers, there are round 25 workers officers, together with medical specialists deployed there.
“We’re involved on the deteriorating safety scenario alongside the Blue Line,” the Ministry of Exterior Affairs stated in an announcement, including that “We proceed to watch the scenario very carefully.”
New Delhi underscored the significance it attaches to United Nations’ peacekeeping initiatives saying UN premises can’t be allowed to be focused, and respecting its sanctity is a mandate.
“Inviolability of UN premises should be revered by all, and applicable measures taken to make sure the protection of UN peacekeepers and the sanctity of their mandate,” the overseas ministry stated.
Israel nonetheless, has defended its actions, with the Israeli Protection Forces or IDF claiming that “For the reason that starting of the warfare, Hezbollah has fired greater than 130 rockets in shut proximity” to 26 United Nations services.”
The IDF additionally put out a map during which it has recognized these locations as being “lower than 300 meters” from the UN services.
WHAT THE UNITED NATIONS SAID – UNIFIL STATEMENT
The UN has stated, “Latest escalation alongside the Blue Line is inflicting widespread destruction of cities and villages in south Lebanon, whereas rockets proceed to be launched in direction of Israel, together with civilian areas. Up to now days now we have seen incursions from Israel into Lebanon in Naqoura and different areas. Israel Protection Forces (IDF) troopers have clashed with Hizbullah parts on the bottom in Lebanon.”
It additional stated that “UNIFIL’s Naqoura headquarters and close by positions have been repeatedly hit,” including that on Thursday “two peacekeepers had been injured after an IDF Merkava tank fired its weapon towards an statement tower at UNIFIL’s headquarters in Naqoura, instantly hitting it and inflicting them to fall. The accidents are luckily, this time, not severe, however they continue to be in hospital.”
Talking concerning the Israeli offensive, the UN assertion asserted that “IDF troopers additionally fired on UN place (UNP) 1-31 in Labbouneh, hitting the doorway to the bunker the place peacekeepers had been sheltering, and damaging automobiles and a communications system. An IDF drone was noticed flying contained in the UN place as much as the bunker entrance.”
It additional highlighted that on Wednesday “IDF (Israeli) troopers intentionally fired at and disabled the place’s perimeter-monitoring cameras. Additionally they intentionally fired on UNP 1-32A in Ras Naqoura, the place common Tripartite conferences had been held earlier than the battle started, damaging lighting and a relay station.”
Reminding Israeli forces that its assaults on UN services is a grave violation of worldwide humanitarian regulation in addition to UN Safety Council decision 1701, the UN stated, “We remind the IDF and all actors of their obligations to make sure the protection and safety of UN personnel and property and to respect the inviolability of UN premises always. UNIFIL peacekeepers are current in south Lebanon to assist a return to stability beneath Safety Council mandate. Any deliberate assault on peacekeepers is a grave violation of worldwide humanitarian regulation and of Safety Council decision 1701.”
WHAT IS UN SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION 1701
United Nations Safety Council Decision 1701 is a decision that was adopted with an intention to resolve the 2006 Lebanon Warfare.
The decision has been the linchpin of peace between Israel and Lebanon for nearly 20 years and the ten,000 UN peacekeepers who’re tasked with implementing it on the bottom.
United Nations Safety Council unanimously adopts decision 1701 in 2006. (file) (Picture Credit score: un.org)
Adopted unanimously by the UN Safety Council in 2006, the aim of decision 1701 continues to be about ending hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, with the Council calling for a everlasting ceasefire to be based mostly on the creation of a buffer zone.
WHAT IS ‘THE BLUE LINE’
The ‘Blue Line’ is a United Nations-recognised demarcation line to point that Israel had withdrawn its navy from southern Lebanon. It separates Lebanon from Israel and the Golan Heights, however it’s not an official worldwide border.
Stretching for 120km alongside Lebanon’s southern frontier and Israel’s northern border, the so-called “Blue Line” is “a key to peace within the area” and one of many central parts of decision 1701 for the reason that warfare in 2006, with UNIFIL peacekeepers being its non permanent custodian, based on UN Peacekeeping.
UNIFIL and Lebanese officers function one of many “Blue Barrels”, which decide the Blue Line, in southern Lebanon in 2010. (file) (Picture Credit score: un.org)
Primarily based on numerous historic maps, some courting again nearly a century, the Blue Line will not be a border, however a brief “line of withdrawal” set by the UN in 2000 for the sensible goal of confirming the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon.
Each time Israeli or Lebanese authorities want to undertake any actions near the Blue Line, UNIFIL requests that they supply advance discover, permitting the UN mission to maintain authorities on all sides knowledgeable, to minimise any misunderstandings that might result in elevated tensions.
ISRAEL’S LETTER TO THE UNITED NATIONS
Israel’s Minister of Overseas Affairs has written a letter to the United Nations clarifying its stance amid the continuing and escalating disaster within the Center East (West Asia), particularly with regard to its operations in Lebanon.
In its letter, the minister wrote that “On Ictiber 8, 2023, Hezbollah, a terrorist, Iranian-backed organisation, launched an unprovoked assault on Israel, becoming a member of the warfare initiated by Hazas on October 7, 2023. Since then they’ve fired over 13,000 projectiles, 1500 anti-tank missiles and a whole lot of explosive drones at Israeli communities, forcing greater than 63,000 folks to evacuate their properties.”
The minister additional stated that “This warfare which was imposed on Israel has to this point resulted in 51 casualties and over 372 accidents, apart from inflicting extreme harm ot Israeli cities and villages.”
The minister stated that on account of Hezbollah’s unilateral and unprovoked actions, “One 12 months later, on October 1, 2024 the IDF initiated a focused, restricted raid operations in southern Lebanon aimed toward Hezbollah navy property and infrastructure alongside the Blue Line, with a purpose of dismantling them and neutralising the continuing menace.”