Beirut: Yesterday morning, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) informed the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) that it would conduct an aerial activity involving the release of what it described as a non-toxic chemical substance over areas near the Blue Line. UNIFIL was instructed to remain under cover and keep peacekeepers away from the affected areas, leading to the cancellation of more than a dozen planned activities.

According to National News Agency - Lebanon, peacekeepers were unable to carry out normal operations along nearly one-third of the Blue Line for over nine hours. Operations only resumed later in the day, after which UNIFIL supported the Lebanese Armed Forces in collecting samples of the substance for toxicity testing.

UNIFIL described the activity as unacceptable and a violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701. It stressed that the deliberate and planned nature of the action not only restricted peacekeepers from fulfilling their mandated duties, but also potentially endangered the health of peacekeepers and civilians. The incident further raised concerns about the possible impact of the unknown substance on agricultural land and the long-term implications for the return of civilians to their homes and livelihoods.

This was not the first such incident, UNIFIL noted, recalling previous cases in which unknown chemical substances were dropped from aircraft over Lebanese territory. The force reiterated that Israeli overflights of Lebanon constitute violations of Resolution 1701 and warned that any activity placing peacekeepers or civilians at risk is a matter of serious concern.

UNIFIL once again called on the IDF to cease all such activities and to coordinate with peacekeepers in order to support stability along the Blue Line and in southern Lebanon.