UNITED NATIONS — United Nations (UN) peacekeepers in southern Lebanon remain in place — despite Israel asking them to move — and provide the only communications link between the countries' militaries, the UN peacekeeping chief said on Thursday (Oct 3).

"Peacekeepers continue to do their best to implement their Security Council mandate in obviously very difficult conditions," UN peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix told reporters, adding that contingency plans were ready for both good and bad outcomes.

The mission, known as UNIFIL, is mandated by the Security Council to help the Lebanese army keep the area free of weapons and armed personnel other than those of the Lebanese state. That has sparked friction with Iran-backed Hezbollah, which effectively controls southern Lebanon.

The Israeli military asked UN peacekeepers earlier this week to prepare to relocate more than 5 km from the border between Israel and Lebanon — known as the Blue Line — "as soon as possible, in order to maintain your safety," according to an excerpt from the message, seen by Reuters.

Related

---