The United Nations recently declined a request from Israel to relocate some of its peacekeepers near the Lebanese border, a decision that preceded Israel's ground operation in the region. The United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon (UNIFIL), responsible for peacekeeping efforts in southern Lebanon, received a request from the Israeli military to vacate certain positions near the Blue Line, the boundary between Israel and Lebanon that has been a focal point of conflict in recent times.
According to Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, the UN had foreseen the possibility of Israel conducting targeted ground operations in Lebanon. Consequently, the decision was made to maintain the peacekeepers in their current positions. Lacroix emphasized that this decision was carefully considered, extensively discussed, and deemed to be in the best interest of UNIFIL, the peacekeepers, and in alignment with their mandate.
