UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon says Israeli tanks blocked its supply convoy on 16 October

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) reported that Israeli tanks blocked one of its logistics convoys on 16 October. Stéphane Dujarric, spokesman for the Secretary-General, gave the account at the daily press briefing.

The UN is a party to this story. UNIFIL is a UN peacekeeping mission, and the account of the obstruction comes from the UN itself. The sources supplied do not include a response from Israel, and this paper has no means of checking the claims.

According to Mr. Dujarric, the convoy was stopped near Al Bayyadah in Sector West. He said this prevented supplies from reaching the mission's own positions. The English-language briefing record speaks of tanks. UN News in Arabic, summarising the same briefing, says a single Israeli tank blocked the convoy. The sources do not say how long the convoy was held or whether the supplies later got through.

Mr. Dujarric said roadblocks and obstacles on several routes have forced UNIFIL to cancel planned patrols and logistics convoys. He said restrictions on the mission's freedom of movement continue. The sources do not say how many patrols or convoys were cancelled.

He also said UNIFIL recorded several Israeli air strikes from Friday through Sunday, in both of its sectors. Peacekeepers also recorded extensive artillery, mortar and firing activity, as well as engineering works across Sectors East and West. The briefing gave no figures for the strikes and did not say where they hit or whether anyone was hurt. Mr. Dujarric said UNIFIL continues to monitor and report all violations under Security Council resolution 1701. He urged all parties to avoid actions that could increase tensions.

Mr. Dujarric said UNIFIL needs to carry out its mandated tasks “safely and without obstruction,” as authorized by the Security Council. UN News in Arabic adds that the Security Council has set the mission's mandate to end at the close of this year.

Asked at the briefing about the consequences of UNIFIL leaving south Lebanon, Mr. Dujarric said it was easy to imagine the vacuum if the force is not replaced by another international presence. He said the Secretary-General has given the Security Council a number of options in a letter sent months ago. He said he hoped discussions among Council members are under way. He added that he had seen proposals from the European Union and others. In his words, the situation along the Blue Line is “far from stable and far from safe.” The briefing did not describe the options in the letter.

The briefing also noted that four Indonesian peacekeepers recently lost their lives in southern Lebanon while serving with UNIFIL. It did not say how they died. The Secretary-General laid a wreath for them at the Indonesia Armed Forces Peacekeeping Centre. He said violations demand accountability and that he will keep calling on member states to uphold their obligations to ensure the safety and security of UN personnel.

Separately, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the head of UN Peacekeeping, is touring the Middle East. Mr. Dujarric said Mr. Lacroix concluded a visit to Syria, where he met the leadership of the UN Disengagement Observer Force. His next stop is the headquarters of the UN Truce Supervision Organization in Jerusalem. There he will also meet senior Israeli government and military officials to discuss the work of the peacekeeping missions in the region. He will then go to Iraq.