Renewed military activity between Israel and Hezbollah is putting civilians at greater risk in southern Lebanon, where damaged roads, destroyed infrastructure and disrupted services are making it harder for residents and aid workers to move, the United Nations said.
The UN Interim Force in Lebanon, or UNIFIL, said it had recorded increased military activity in its area of operations, including logistical movements, demolitions and projectile launches, despite a decline in violence compared with previous months.
The warning came after reports of Hezbollah drone attacks and retaliatory Israeli strikes on Wednesday and Thursday. UNIFIL said the latest strikes were outside its area of operations, but the effects of the conflict continue to be felt across southern Lebanon and along the Blue Line.
Several villages and neighborhoods have suffered severe damage to homes, roads and other civilian infrastructure, according to the mission. The destruction has restricted travel between communities and made access to essential services more difficult.
Humanitarian organizations and peacekeepers have also faced logistical problems while trying to reach affected areas.
UNIFIL spokesperson Kandice Ardiel said the mission was urging all sides to comply with UN Security Council Resolution 1701, adopted in 2006 to end hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, and to use existing mechanisms to prevent further escalation.
“It’s in no one’s interest to continue on a military path. The only solution to this is political and diplomatic,” Ardiel told UN News.
UNIFIL said it continues to coordinate with the Lebanese Armed Forces and the Israel Defense Forces to facilitate movement and reduce the risk of incidents. Peacekeepers also accompany some movements to support humanitarian access where possible.
The mission said peacekeepers have faced occasional delays at Israeli military checkpoints along the coastal road between UNIFIL headquarters in Naqoura and Beirut.
“Peacekeepers have freedom of movement, and any interruption of that is a concern for us,” Ardiel said.
Humanitarian needs remain high as the conflict continues.
UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said 900,000 people have received at least one round of emergency cash assistance since the Hezbollah-Israel conflict erupted in March.
The six-month flash appeal seeking nearly $640 million for people affected by the fighting, however, remains only half funded and is due to end in four days.
“We call for full respect for international humanitarian law, the protection of civilians, the protection of civilian infrastructure, the protection of humanitarian and aid workers as well as our peacekeepers while stressing that sustained humanitarian support is essential to meet the needs of communities affected by the ongoing hostilities,” Dujarric said.
UNIFIL’s mandate is set to expire at the end of the year, raising UN concerns about a potential security vacuum after the mission’s departure.
In a letter published in June, UN Secretary-General António Guterres outlined options for implementing Resolution 1701 without UNIFIL. The proposals include a smaller UN presence to monitor the Blue Line and a stronger UN political office in Lebanon to support peace efforts and coordinate UN work.
UNIFIL said renewed military activity could erode the fragile stability achieved in recent months and urged both sides to return to political and diplomatic channels.
