Gunfire rattled southern Lebanon last Thursday when six men, reportedly riding three mopeds, opened fire on a United Nations peacekeeping patrol. The attack, which miraculously left no one injured, came at a time of heightened tension along the Lebanese-Israeli border and just days before a high-level United Nations Security Council (UNSC) delegation was set to visit the region. According to statements from both the Lebanese army and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), the rapid response by Lebanese military intelligence resulted in the arrest of six suspects on Saturday, a move intended to send a clear message: attacks on international peacekeepers will not be tolerated.
For nearly five decades, UNIFIL has been a buffer between Israel and Lebanon, its blue-helmeted patrols a familiar sight south of the Litani River. Their mission, which began in 1978, has grown ever more complex, especially since the November 2024 ceasefire that sought to halt more than a year of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah. The truce was supposed to usher in a new era: Israeli forces would withdraw from Lebanese territory, and the Iran-backed Hezbollah would disarm. Yet, as the events of the past week show, that vision remains elusive.
UNIFIL peacekeepers have found themselves in an increasingly precarious position. Not only have they faced attacks such as Thursday’s, but they have also recently complained of Israeli forces firing at or near their positions. The dangers are real and mounting. The Lebanese army, in its statement on Saturday, emphasized the importance of UNIFIL’s stabilizing presence and reiterated its commitment to protecting them. "We will not tolerate attacks on UNIFIL," the army declared, underscoring the force’s vital role in maintaining a fragile peace near the Israeli border.
The timing of the attack was especially fraught. On Friday, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun met with the visiting UNSC delegation, which included Slovenian UN ambassador Samuel Zbogar, whose country currently holds the rotating presidency of the UN body. The delegation’s visit was not just symbolic; it was a fact-finding mission aimed at assessing the situation on the ground. President Aoun told the delegates that their journey south would allow them to “see the real picture of what is happening there,” according to reporting from Dawn and Al Jazeera.
The UNSC’s visit comes amid an uptick in violence and a flurry of diplomatic activity. Israeli forces, who were supposed to have withdrawn under the terms of last year’s ceasefire, continue to occupy at least five positions inside Lebanese territory. According to United Nations figures, Israeli strikes have killed more than 300 people in Lebanon over the past year, with civilians among the casualties and significant destruction of homes and critical infrastructure. Israel insists its operations are aimed at preventing Hezbollah from rebuilding its military capabilities, but the toll on noncombatants and civilian life has been severe.
Meanwhile, Lebanon’s government, under heavy U.S. pressure and the shadow of possible expanded Israeli strikes, has recommitted to the disarmament of Hezbollah. The Lebanese army is set to dismantle the group’s military infrastructure near the border by the end of this year, with plans to address its presence throughout the country in the future. The UNSC delegation, echoing the international community’s stance, voiced support for a state monopoly on weapons. "We support the Lebanese government’s decision to ensure the state’s monopoly of arms," Zbogar said, as reported by Dawn. He also called for “intensified international support” for Lebanon’s army, highlighting the challenges ahead.
Yet, the path forward is fraught with political and military obstacles. Hezbollah has openly resisted disarmament efforts, and in the wake of Lebanon’s recent overtures toward Israel—including direct talks between civilian officials from both countries for the first time in decades—the group has voiced its disapproval. According to Al Jazeera, Hezbollah criticized Lebanon’s offer to Israel as a “free concession” that would do nothing to stop ongoing attacks. The group’s statement reflects deep-seated mistrust and the difficulty of achieving consensus in a country divided along sectarian and ideological lines.
The November 2024 ceasefire, which was supposed to end years of hostilities, is now at risk of unraveling. The UNSC delegation, during its visit, urged all parties to uphold the agreement. “All parties must uphold the November 2024 cessation of hostilities agreement, and we recognize progress achieved by Lebanon this year,” Zbogar told reporters. He reaffirmed the council’s support for Lebanon’s territorial integrity, sovereignty, and political independence, as well as the full implementation of Resolution 1701—the 2006 Security Council decision that forms the basis of the current truce.
Resolution 1701 has long called for an end to hostilities, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon, and the disarmament of all armed groups south of the Litani River. But as recent events show, the implementation of these provisions remains incomplete. The UNSC’s extension of UNIFIL’s mandate until the end of 2026, with plans for withdrawal by the end of 2027, underscores the urgency of finding a durable solution before international peacekeepers depart.
During their visit, the UNSC delegates traveled to conflict-hit southern Lebanon, where they met with UNIFIL peacekeepers and surveyed the damage wrought by recent clashes. The visit was described by Zbogar as a chance to “examine options for the implementation of Resolution 1701 following UNIFIL’s departure from Lebanon,” with the ambassador adding that “this is a topic that will deserve a thorough conversation during 2026.”
President Aoun, for his part, sought to reassure the international community of Lebanon’s intentions. He told the UNSC delegation that Lebanon “does not want war with Israel,” a sentiment echoed by many Lebanese citizens weary of conflict. The president also stated, “Lebanon has adopted the option of negotiations with Israel and there is no going back.” These words, while signaling a willingness to engage, have stirred controversy at home, particularly among factions who view any negotiation with Israel as a betrayal.
The stakes could hardly be higher. The region remains a tinderbox, with the risk of renewed war ever-present. The ongoing presence of Israeli troops in Lebanese territory, the resistance of Hezbollah to disarmament, and the vulnerability of UNIFIL peacekeepers all threaten to undo the fragile calm achieved over the past year. The UNSC’s call for intensified support for Lebanon’s army and the need for international engagement reflect a recognition that the coming months will be pivotal.
As Lebanon edges toward the end of 2025, the world watches closely. The recent attack on UN peacekeepers, while not resulting in casualties, is a stark reminder of the volatility of the border region. The arrests by Lebanese authorities, the diplomatic efforts of the UNSC, and the ongoing debates about the future of Hezbollah and Israeli military presence all point to a country at a crossroads—one where the choices made in the coming months could shape the fate of the region for years to come.
