Lebanon: Civilians and peacekeepers at risk, amid escalating conflict
29 March 2021 – The UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jan Kubis, today strongly condemned the firing of rockets into Israel from southern Lebanon, and the subsequent Israeli strikes in response. He called on all parties to exercise maximum restraint and to cease fire immediately.
“This grave development adds to the suffering of the people of Lebanon and the region, especially during the holy month of Ramadan, and at a time when the country continues to face immense economic, social and political challenges, including a global pandemic,” said Mr. Kubis.
At least four rockets were launched from southern Lebanon towards Israel yesterday evening, with three landing inside Israeli territory. In response, the Israeli military fired several artillery shells into southern Lebanon. No casualties were reported on either side.
The rocket attack comes amid heightened tensions between Israel and Lebanon, following a series of Israeli airstrikes in Syria earlier this month. Israel has accused Iran of supplying Hezbollah with long-range missiles, and has warned that it will not tolerate any threats to its security.
The UN Security Council has called on all parties to implement Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah. The resolution calls for a cessation of hostilities, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon, and the deployment of UN peacekeepers to the area.
The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has been deployed in Lebanon since 1978. The force’s mandate is to help the Lebanese government maintain security in the south of the country, and to monitor the implementation of Resolution 1701.
UNIFIL has condemned the rocket attack, and has called on all parties to respect the ceasefire. The force said it was working with the Lebanese Armed Forces to investigate the incident.
The escalation in violence comes at a time when Lebanon is facing a severe economic crisis. The country’s economy has been in freefall for the past year, and the Lebanese pound has lost more than half of its value against the US dollar.
The economic crisis has led to widespread unemployment and poverty. The UN has warned that Lebanon is on the brink of a humanitarian crisis, and that millions of people could be at risk of food insecurity.
The escalation in violence is also a setback to the UN’s efforts to mediate a political solution to the crisis in Lebanon. The UN has been working with the Lebanese government and other stakeholders to find a way out of the crisis, but the ongoing violence has made it difficult to make progress.
The UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jan Kubis, called on all parties to put the interests of the Lebanese people first, and to work together to find a peaceful solution to the crisis.
Civilians and peacekeepers at risk, amid escalating Lebanon conflict
The AI has provided us with the news.
I’ve asked Google Gemini the following question, and here’s its response.
Please search for “Civilians and peacekeepers at risk, amid escalating Lebanon conflict” which is rapidly rising on Middle East and explain in detail. Answers should be in English.
6