Jean-Pierre Lacroix (DPO) on the situation in…

Madam President,Members of the Security Council,As you just heard from Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo, the situation in Lebanon and in the region is indeed increasingly alarming.The Israel Defense Forces' ground operations in Lebanon, that commenced on 1 October, are ongoing as intense air bombardment continues across the country. Much of southern Lebanon – UNIFIL's area of operations - is now uninhabited and increasingly uninhabitable.Israel's stated aim is the return of inhabitants to their northern communities after one year of fear, one year of displacement. Hizbullah continues to fire across the Blue Line and is now threatening major population centres - including Haifa and Tiberias – in Israel with increasingly high calibre weapons. This is a clear demonstration of the presence of unauthorised armed personnel, assets and weapons south of the Litani River, in grave violation of resolution 1701.
Since 23 September, with the launch of the Israel Defence Forces Operation Northern Arrows, UNIFIL has as of 8 October detected 5,451 trajectories from south to north of the Blue Line and 610 air attacks by the Israel Defense Forces. In this same period, UNIFIL has detected 1,385 trajectories from north to south.Notably, each trajectory may represent multiple projectiles and UNIFIL cannot detect some projectiles, such as those fired by portable anti-tank launchers or light weapons.Since 1 October, there have been fierce clashes on the ground, with at least 12 Israeli soldiers and scores of Hizbullah combatants reportedly killed. UNIFIL has observed Israeli incursions with infantry, Merkava tanks, and engineering vehicles, at Marun al- R'as, Labuneh and Yarun in Sector West, and near Kfar Kila, Meiss Ej Jebel and Udaysah in Sector East. UNIFIL has not been able to observe all such activity, however, as I will explain later.This situation has put our peacekeepers at serious risk. Clashes in the Labuneh/Naqoura area since 8 October have involved tank and small arms fire, airstrikes, Iron Dome interceptions, and multiple explosions. Two peacekeepers were wounded when earlier today a UN observation post [OP-14] in UNIFIL's headquarters in Naqoura was hit by tank fire. Close by, also early this morning, IDF soldiers fired on a UN position [UNP 1-31] from an opening in the fence made by the IDF the previous day during adjacent ground works. Several vehicles and a communications system were damaged.
Just yesterday Israeli forces fired at cameras at the same UN position [UNP-1-31], and small arms fire hit another UN position also near Labuneh [UNP-1-32A] damaging lighting and a radio relay station. Until a year ago the latter position served as the venue for UNIFIL's Tripartite meetings. The UNIFIL Force Commander and Head of Mission has strongly protested these actions to the IDF.Shortly before commencing their ground operations, the Israel Defense Forces had urged that UNIFIL peacekeepers vacate UN positions within 5 km of the Blue Line stating that this was for their safety and security. Our peacekeepers have remained in position, in line with the mandate this Council has provided, while continuously reassessing the force's posture against prevailing risks.As a mitigation measure, UNIFIL had already strengthened the force protection of its positions near the Blue Line. In addition, with little movement – and thus operational activity - possible in the prevailing security conditions – UNIFIL had decided to reduce the footprint at the most affected UN positions by 25 per cent. By 6 October, UNIFIL had temporarily relocated 300 peacekeepers to larger bases within the area of operations, with the movement of another 200 planned, dependent on the prevailing security situation.The safety and security of peacekeepers is now increasingly in jeopardy. The actions outlined above show little regard for the protections afforded to UN premises and personnel under international law.
There is the further issue of military installations in the vicinity of UN positions. Previously I have highlighted that Hizbullah activities in the vicinity of UN positions held the potential to draw return fire. Now, we face a similar situation with the Israel Defence Forces installing positions directly adjacent to UN positions – a development that we strongly protest.On 2 October, IDF Merkava tanks were positioned next to a UN position in the vicinity of Marun al-R'as in Sector West (UNP 6-52) and an assembly area constructed immediately adjacent. On 3 October, UNIFIL observed an IDF tank fire over this position, and on 7 October, two IDF controlled explosive demolition nearby resulted in damage to the UN position perimeter bastions. By 8 October, the IDF had vacated their position, while movement of IDF personnel and vehicles has been observed to continue on the adjacent road.In addition, on 7 October, firing by IDF tanks which had been observed crossing the Blue Line near Alma al Sha'b in Sector West damaged the external wall and bunker of a UN position [1-31]. The same day minor damage was reported to a building and a UN vehicle in UNIFIL headquarters Greenhill camp. Also that same day, with an IDF incursion in the vicinity of Mays al-Jabal in Sector East, a UN vehicle inside a UN position was hit by indirect fire.It should be remembered that the ultimate responsibility for ensuring the safety and security of our peacekeepers lies with the actors on the ground. We have strongly protested these developments to the Israeli authorities, and underlined the responsibility of the IDF to:•respect the protected status of UNIFIL and its personnel, including the inviolability of United Nations premises;•to take all necessary measures to ensure their safety and security, including to avoid positioning their troops in proximity to UNIFIL peacekeepers and premises; andthat this presence compromises the impartiality of UNIFIL and puts UNIFIL personnel and premises at risk of being impacted by any potential exchange of fire.UNIFIL operational activities have virtually come to a halt since 23 September. Peacekeepers have been confined to their bases with significant periods of time in shelter. This severe impediment to the mission's freedom of movement within the area of operations has limited the Mission's monitoring and reporting ability.This security environment has also presented challenges for the resupply of fuel, food and water for UN positions. The deconfliction of UNIFIL logistics movements remains paramount; the Mission is monitoring the security and sustainability of each of its positions, especially those on the Blue Line, adjusting accordingly.The security situation has impacted our civilian personnel as well, with almost all international civilian personnel relocated to Beirut or out of the country. The Mission has made shelter available to those national staff who are not able to relocate from the area of operations.
The UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander, as designated official for the South Litani sector, is coordinating closely with the Special Coordinator for Lebanon, who is designated official for north of the Litani, to ensure the safety and security of all United Nations personnel in Lebanon.The Lebanese Armed Forces has also come under fire, with three Lebanese soldiers killed since 30 September. One UNIFIL contractor was killed on 2 September.Madam President,As noted by USG DiCarlo, the heavy exchanges of fire have most tragically had the greatest impact on civilians on both sides, with many casualties and hundreds of thousands displaced. UNIFIL continues to support the Lebanese authorities in protecting civilians, facilitating humanitarian missions by the Lebanese Armed Forces and Lebanese Red Cross, and offering shelter to civilians at UN positions when possible.UNIFIL's liaison and coordination team has continued its close engagements with the Lebanese Armed Forces and Israel Defense Forces, seeking to de-conflict, facilitate humanitarian missions, and avoid miscalculations.Madam President,Members of this Council,
The UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander, in concert with the Special Coordinator, is actively engaging with the parties to urge an immediate de-escalation and a return to a cessation of hostilities.I echo the recent remarks of the Secretary-General and of the Special Coordinator: there is no military solution to this crisis. We urge the parties to return immediately to a cessation of hostilities and to take real action towards full implementation of Security Council resolution 1701 (2006).We stand ready to support all efforts towards a diplomatic solution. UNIFIL is mandated to support the implementation of resolution 1701, but we must insist that it is for the parties themselves to implement the provisions of this resolution.To those Member States contributing troops to UNIFIL, we extend our most sincere gratitude. The continued, united commitment of the troop-contributing-countries, as well as the continued, united support of this Council is more important than ever. I express solidarity with, and pride in, the men and women of UNIFIL now truly on the front lines, in endeavouring to stabilise the Blue Line, and beyond. I join the Secretary General in commending the head of mission and force commander of UNIFIL, General Aroldo Làzaro Saenz for his leadership in these critical times.Madam President,thank you.