BEIRUT: The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon reported extensive Israeli military activity across southern Lebanon over the past three days despite an ongoing ceasefire arrangement.
Speaking during a United Nations news briefing on Monday, UN spokesperson Farhan Haq stated that peacekeepers observed significant exchanges of fire and military operations throughout the mission’s operational area.
According to Haq, UNIFIL recorded more than 1,296 trajectories or projectiles linked to the Israeli military between Friday and Monday. Meanwhile, the mission also documented 64 projectiles attributed to Hezbollah during the same period.
Furthermore, Haq highlighted continued restrictions on the movement of UN peacekeepers. He said incidents limiting UNIFIL’s freedom of movement now occur daily. On Saturday, an Israeli tank and bulldozer reportedly blocked UN personnel operating in Sector West.
The UN official emphasized that all parties remain responsible for ensuring unrestricted movement for peacekeepers and enabling the mission to carry out its mandated duties safely.
Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation in Lebanon continues worsening despite the ceasefire announced on April 17 and later extended until May 17. Citing information from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Haq reported that more than 100 strikes occurred within the past 24 hours alone.
Additionally, violence over the weekend reportedly killed 87 people and further strained humanitarian resources across the country. UN officials warned that insufficient funding for the organization’s $308 million emergency appeal could disrupt essential services, including healthcare, water supply, and sanitation programs.
According to official figures, Israeli military operations in Lebanon since March 2 have killed at least 2,869 people, injured 8,730 others, and displaced more than 1.6 million residents.
