Peacekeeping Force Confirms Third Hezbollah-Dug Tunnel Into Israel Violates UN Resolution
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by Benjamin Kerstein
UNIFIL peacekeepers patrol the border with Israel near the Lebanese village of Kfar Kila, Dec. 4, 2018. Photo: Reuters / Ali Hashisho.
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) confirmed the existence of a third tunnel dug by Hezbollah beneath the border into northern Israel.
In an official statement, UNIFIL — which is assigned to monitor and keep the peace on the Israel-Lebanon border — stated that it had been asked by the IDF to investigate the six Hezbollah tunnels uncovered and destroyed during Operation Northern Shield this past winter.
UNIFIL stated that “independent technical investigations” showed that two of the tunnels crossed the “Blue Line” demarcating the border, and that a third had just been confirmed.
The organization stated unequivocally that in crossing the border, the tunnel “crosses the Blue Line in violation of resolution 1701,” which ended the summer 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah.
UNIFIL stated that it “informed the Lebanese authorities about the violation and has requested urgent follow-up actions in accordance with the responsibilities of the Government of Lebanon pursuant to resolution 1701.”
Such actions were unlikely, as the Iran-backed Hezbollah dominates the Lebanese government.
The IDF responded to the statement, tweeting, “@UNIFIL_ gives additional confirmation of the existence of #Hezbollah attack tunnels dug from Lebanon into Israel which were exposed as a part of IDF Operation #NorthernShield. @UNIFIL_ calls on #Lebanon to take urgent action against this violation of @UN resolution 1701.”
.@UNIFIL_ gives additional confirmation of the existence of #Hezbollah attack tunnels dug from Lebanon into Israel which were exposed as a part of IDF Operation #NorthernShield. @UNIFIL_ calls on #Lebanon to take urgent action against this violation of @UN resolution 1701. pic.twitter.com/OWabUY0BBm
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) April 25, 2019
UNIFIL has often been criticized as ineffective and impotent in preventing Hezbollah from entrenching itself along the border and engaging in terrorist activities.
