UN Urges Israel's Military To Resign From Lebanon Soon

UN peacekeeping Forces (UNIFIL) in Lebanon/UNIFIL

JAKARTA - UN Deputy Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, called the ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel a "fragitive" situation and urged the Israeli military to immediately withdraw from Lebanese territory.

"The cessation of hostilities between Lebanon and Israel, although fragile, still persists," Lacroix said at a UN Security Council meeting reported by ANTARA from Anadolu, Saturday, January 18.

Lacroix noted the Lebanese government's commitment to maintaining a ceasefire agreement and stressed that the UN provisional peacekeeping force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) would continue to support both sides.

The further deployment of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) relies on the withdrawal of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), he said.

Lacroix welcomes the IDF's plan for a gradual withdrawal followed by LAF placement.

However, he highlighted that with only 10 days remaining until the end of the 60-day period determined for withdrawal, Israel is still destroying tunnels, buildings and agricultural land.

"Several airstrikes were also reported, as were Lebanese airspace violations that continued," he added.

Lacroix stated that Israel's military presence in Lebanese territory was a violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 war in Lebanon.

He urged the Israeli military to "resign from Lebanese territory without delay, at least before the stipulated period in the announcement of the ceasefire ends."

Lacroix also reported that UN personnel remained at UNIFIL's headquarters or took shelter in a bunker due to an Israeli military strike.

"UNIFIL operations are increasingly hampered by the presence of remaining explosives, road blockades by IDFs in various locations, as well as disturbances from local residents," he explained.

Patrick Gauchat, head of the United Nations Armistice Supervisory Organization (UNTSO), also reported Israel's military presence in the segregation zone.

The IDF continues to carry out construction work with heavy equipment inside the separation zone. They also installed communication equipment there, "said Gauchat.

Gauchat said the UN Disengaged Observer Forces (UNDOF) had warned Israel of violations of the 1974 power release agreement due to their presence in the segregation zone.

Some residents in the separation zone also protested searches by the IDF in their village, with some reporting arrests of their relatives, he said.

Affirming a power-leaving agreement between Israel and Syria is still in effect, Gauchat said, "It is very important for UN peacekeeping forces to be able to carry out their duties without a hitch."

Since the Syrian opposition group toppled Bashar Assad on December 8, Israel has stepped up its airstrikes across the Syrian territory, which are deemed to have violated the country's sovereignty.

Israel has also unilaterally suspended the 1974 Power Release Agreement with Syria, placing troops in the demilitarized buffer zone in the occupied Golan Heights.

The move has been criticized by the United Nations and a number of Arab countries.

Although Israel claims its presence is temporary, some officials hint at the need to maintain influence in Syria for an undetermined period of time.