Middle East Conflict | Safety of peacekeepers in Lebanon must be respected: UN

The United Nations Head of Peace Operations says the parties to the conflict in southern Lebanon have an obligation to respect the safety and security of U.N. Peacekeepers operational in that area. While Interim Force in Lebanon - or UNIFIL - was first deployed to patrol Lebanon's southern border with Israel in 1978, its mandate was amended in 2006 allowing peacekeepers to help the Lebanese army keep the area free of weapons, or armed personnel other than those operated by the Government and the U.N. But, Hezbollah effectively controls southern Lebanon - and is a force far superior to the official army. Now with Israel's ground incursion there, the role of UNIFIL peacekeepers has been brought into question, particularly in an environment where there is no peace to keep. For more news, visit sabcnews.com and #SABCNews on all Social Media platforms.