UNIFIL confirms Lebanese terror group built outpost on Israeli territory
Israeli ambassador notes Hezbollah established 27 outposts along the Blue Line in the past year, in violation of UN Resolution 1701
The Iranian terrorist proxy organization Hezbollah has created an outpost on Israeli territory, the United Nations finally confirmed after diplomatic pressure from Israel.
The UN peacekeeping mission on the Israeli-Lebanese border, known as UNIFIL, acknowledged that Hezbollah set up tents on Israel’s side of the Blue Line, which marks the UN-recognized border between Israel and Lebanon, also known as the Shebaa Farms. The two countries do not have a formal border due to territorial disputes.
According to Israel’s Kan news, Hezbollah established the outpost a few weeks ago but despite being aware of its presence, the Israeli military chose not to make a public announcement about it, as it believed that the Hezbollah move was made as an attention-seeking provocation.
“The issue is known and being dealt with by all the relevant parties,” an Israel Defense Forces spokesperson said at the time.
Israel’s Ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan wrote a letter arguing that Hezbollah’s actions violate UN Resolution 1701, according to which armed groups must stay away from the Blue Line. He also noted that Hezbollah has established 27 outposts along the Blue Line in the past year, which is also a breach of Resolution 1701.
Erdan's letter made it clear that the UN has a responsibility to act on those matters and that Israel expects UNIFIL to remove the Hezbollah outpost.
Since 2018, Israel has been building a new border wall with Lebanon, as the aging fence is no longer sufficient. As of 2020, only 15 kilometers (just over 9 miles) of the wall had been completed. The border is approximately 130 kilometers (about 80 miles). A wall along the entire border will cost NIS 1.7 billion ($470 million).
Hezbollah allegedly has an arsenal of 150,000 rockets and missiles that is able to reach any location in Israel.
The All Israel News Staff is a team of journalists in Israel.
