France dismisses Israeli request to withdraw UN troops from Lebanon

France has rejected Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s request for the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) to withdraw from its positions.

In a statement issued on October 14, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that “the protection of peacekeeping forces is a responsibility for all parties involved.”

Netanyahu called for UNIFIL to evacuate the border area on October 13, amid ongoing resistance from Hezbollah fighters against Israel’s military operations aimed at occupying Lebanese territory and establishing a “security zone.”

He addressed UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, stating, “It is time for you to withdraw UNIFIL from Hezbollah strongholds and areas of combat.”

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Netanyahu claimed that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have repeatedly requested this withdrawal, only to be met with refusals, which he described as providing a human shield for Hezbollah.

He added, “Your refusal to evacuate the UNIFIL soldiers makes them hostages of Hezbollah, endangering both them and the lives of our soldiers.”

On the same day, UNIFIL reported that Israeli tanks destroyed the main gate of a UN post in Ramyah, Lebanon, and forcibly entered to request that the lights be turned off.

Shortly thereafter, rounds were fired nearby, causing smoke to enter the camp and resulting in skin irritations and gastrointestinal reactions for 15 UN personnel. Additionally, several UNIFIL soldiers were injured in recent attacks, including one critically.

Hezbollah had previously ordered its fighters not to engage Israeli forces establishing a forward operating base near a Lebanese border village, Maroun al-Ras, effectively using UN troops as human shields.

Israel’s military operation in Lebanon began on October 1, marking the fourth attempt by Israeli forces to occupy Lebanese territory in the past 50 years and the first since the 2006 war with Hezbollah. UNIFIL was established in response to Israel’s invasion of southern Lebanon in 1978.

Hezbollah emerged with the support of Iran and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) following Israel’s invasion and occupation of southern Lebanon in 1982, declaring its mission to end the Israeli occupation.

The group launched its first attack on the Israeli army in November 1982.

Proofreading by Uchechi Ojo, Sub-editor at Neptune Prime. 

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