Soldiers from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) attend a ceremony marking the International Day of UN Peacekeepers in Naqoura, Lebanon, May 29, 2025. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua)
BEIRUT, May 29 (Xinhua) -- Aroldo Lazaro Saenz, head of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), on Thursday warned of the tense situation along the Blue Line, the UN-demarcated line marking Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon.
"Any mistake could lead to dire consequences," Lazaro said at UNIFIL headquarters in Naqoura, southern Lebanon, during a ceremony marking the International Day of UN Peacekeepers that falls on May 29.
According to a statement released by UNIFIL, Lazaro said "the path to peace in southern Lebanon is a political one, and we must all work to create the proper conditions for a sustainable and long-term solution."
Noting the recent deployment of additional Lebanese army troops in the south, Lazaro said "their presence must be maintained, as they are the sole guarantor of the state's authority and security."
"Therefore, it is essential for international partners to continue providing support," he said.
Lebanon has witnessed fierce clashes between Hezbollah and Israel since October 2023 following the war in Gaza. A truce, mediated by the United States and France, has largely held since late November 2024, though sporadic flare-ups have continued.
In violation of the truce, the Israeli military continues to hold several strategically important positions in southern Lebanon and launch occasional strikes, claiming they were targeting "Hezbollah threats."
On Thursday afternoon, a municipal employee was killed in an Israeli drone strike on the hills of Nabatieh Fawqa in southern Lebanon, according to Lebanon's state-run National News Agency (NNA). ■
Soldiers from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) attend a ceremony marking the International Day of UN Peacekeepers in Naqoura, Lebanon, May 29, 2025. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua)
Soldiers from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) Lay wreaths during a ceremony marking the International Day of UN Peacekeepers in Naqoura, Lebanon, May 29, 2025. (Photo by Taher Abu Hamdan/Xinhua)
Aroldo Lazaro Saenz, head of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), speaks during a ceremony marking the International Day of UN Peacekeepers in Naqoura, Lebanon, May 29, 2025. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua)
