What's happened
The UN Security Council has expressed strong concern over Israel's attacks on UN peacekeepers in Lebanon, which have resulted in multiple injuries. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has accused the peacekeepers of aiding Hezbollah and has requested their relocation, a claim the UN has rejected, emphasizing the importance of their presence.
Why it matters
What the papers say
The Independent reports that five UN peacekeepers have been injured due to Israeli attacks, with Netanyahu urging their relocation, claiming they provide cover for Hezbollah. In contrast, Metro emphasizes the UN's role in maintaining peace since 1978, highlighting the serious violation of international law represented by these attacks. The UN peacekeeping chief has reiterated the necessity of their presence, despite Israeli claims. This divergence in perspectives illustrates the complex dynamics at play, with the UN advocating for stability while Israel seeks to address perceived threats from Hezbollah.
How we got here
UN peacekeepers were deployed in Lebanon in 1978 to monitor Israeli withdrawal and prevent militant activity. Their mandate has evolved, especially after the 2006 conflict with Hezbollah, to include maintaining peace and security in the region.
More on these topics
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The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, or UNIFIL, is a UN-NATO peacekeeping mission established on 19 March 1978 by United Nations Security Council Resolutions 425 and 426, to confirm Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon which Israel had invaded five day
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Benjamin Netanyahu is an Israeli politician serving as Prime Minister of Israel since 2009, and previously from 1996 to 1999. Netanyahu is also the Chairman of the Likud – National Liberal Movement.
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Israel, formally known as the State of Israel, is a country in Western Asia, located on the southeastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea and the northern shore of the Red Sea.
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Hezbollah is a Shia Islamist political party and militant group based in Lebanon. Hezbollah's paramilitary wing is the Jihad Council, and its political wing is the Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc party in the Lebanese parliament.
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Lebanon, officially known as the Lebanese Republic, is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered by Syria to the north and east and Israel to the south, while Cyprus lies west across the Mediterranean Sea.
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Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a sovereign country consisting of a peninsula delimited by the Alps and surrounded by several islands. Italy is located in south-central Europe, and is considered part of western Europe.
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France, officially the French Republic, is a country consisting of metropolitan France in Western Europe and several overseas regions and territories.
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The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom or Britain, is a sovereign country located off the northÂwestern coast of the European mainland.
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Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central and Western Europe. Covering an area of 357,022 square kilometres, it lies between the Baltic and North seas to the north, and the Alps to the south.
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The United Nations Security Council is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations, charged with ensuring international peace and security, recommending the admission of new UN members to the General Assembly, and approving any changes to the UN