INTERVIEW
UNIFIL Spokesperson Tenenti calls for political solution amid rising tensions in Southern Lebanon
In an exclusive interview, UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti confirmed escalating threats to UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon, citing multiple attacks by Israeli forces. Tenenti emphasized that UNIFIL will remain in place despite calls from Israel to withdraw and stressed that only a political solution, not military action, can bring lasting peace to the region.
As tensions intensify along the Blue Line in southern Lebanon, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) finds itself in an increasingly perilous position. Speaking to Harici, UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti discussed the ongoing conflict between Israeli forces and Hezbollah, which has placed UN peacekeepers at significant risk.
In recent weeks, Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have targeted multiple UNIFIL positions, endangering peacekeepers tasked with monitoring the fragile ceasefire in the area. “We have been attacked, targeted several times by the Israeli Defense Forces, even as recently as yesterday,” Tenenti revealed. He highlighted multiple incidents, including the destruction of observation towers and injuries to peacekeepers caused by IDF shelling.
Tenenti expressed deep concern over the violations of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which was established in 2006 to halt hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah and to prevent a resurgence of violence. “This is a violation of Resolution 1701 and international humanitarian law,” Tenenti stated, condemning the attacks on UNIFIL personnel.
Despite the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s call for UNIFIL to leave their positions “for their own safety,” Tenenti affirmed that the mission remains committed to its mandate. “We are here to monitor the situation impartially. If we leave, there would be no international presence to report on the conflict, which could lead to a very dangerous situation.”
Tensions have spiked along the Lebanese-Israeli border in recent months, with sporadic clashes between Hezbollah and Israeli forces. The IDF has reportedly made several incursions into Lebanese territory, violating the Blue Line, which UNIFIL monitors. “We have been able to monitor sporadic incursions, despite our limited capabilities due to the dangerous security situation,” Tenenti confirmed.
Beyond its monitoring duties, UNIFIL has also facilitated humanitarian efforts in southern Lebanon, working alongside organizations like UNICEF and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to ensure aid reaches those most in need. Tenenti stressed that while UNIFIL’s mandate is not humanitarian, it plays a vital role in coordinating the safe passage of humanitarian convoys through conflict zones. “There are still thousands of people stuck in southern Lebanon without food, water, or electricity, and we are working to mitigate these risks.”
When asked about the potential for a military solution to the conflict, Tenenti was unequivocal: “Military solutions are short-sighted. What we need is a long-lasting political and diplomatic resolution. This conflict has dragged on for 12 months, with thousands dead and entire regions destroyed. We need to prioritize a political solution now, before it escalates further.”