Lacroix told reporters that the force “provides the only link between my armies Israel And Lebanon.”
He added: “The peacekeeping forces continue to do their best to carry out their mandate from the Security Council under what are clearly very difficult circumstances,” explaining that “there are contingency plans ready to deal with any good or bad consequences.”
The Security Council assigned UNIFIL the task of assisting the Lebanese army in keeping the area free of weapons and non-state militants, and this sparked friction with Hezbollah, which effectively controls southern Lebanon.
Earlier this week, the Israeli army asked UNIFIL forces to prepare to move more than 5 kilometers from the border between Israel and Lebanon in what is known as the Blue Line “as soon as possible, for your safety,” according to an excerpt of a letter seen by Reuters.
Lacroix told reporters: “The peacekeeping forces are currently remaining in their positions, all of them. The parties must respect the safety and security of Peacekeeping forces“And I would like to emphasize this.”
Lacroix said that UNIFIL forces still represent a link between the two countries, and described them as “the only channel of communication” between them.
The mission includes more than 10,000 soldiers from 50 countries, and about 800 civilian employees, according to its website, and works to protect civilians, support their safe movement, and deliver humanitarian aid.
It is noteworthy that the scope of work of peacekeeping forces falls between Litani River in the north and the blue line in the south.
The Israeli army asked residents of more than 20 towns in southern Lebanon to evacuate their homes immediately, Thursday, as it continued its cross-border incursion and struck what it says are Hezbollah targets in Beirut.
