In recent days, several soldiers of the UN peacekeeping force have been injured in Lebanon on the sidelines of the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.
Several leaders, including Benjamin Netanyahu, are calling for a withdrawal of these soldiers.
According to Laurent Attar Bayrou, former peacekeeper in Lebanon, on LCI, this option is not a good solution.
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Middle East: fear of widespread conflict
The situation continues to worsen in the Middle East, and more specifically in Lebanon. At least five peacekeepers have been injured in recent days on the sidelines of fighting between the Israeli army and the pro-Iranian Hezbollah movement in the south of the country. These attacks against the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) were strongly condemned by the international community. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on the UN to put its soldiers “take shelter immediately”. “Your refusal to evacuate UNIFIL soldiers makes them hostages of Hezbollah. This puts them in danger”he said on Sunday, during a speech in English.
In this same logic, more and more voices are being raised, including in France, to try to obtain the withdrawal of these peacekeepers. “It’s easy to say it from Paris, we should rather ask (their opinion) of the population in this area (in the south of Lebanon, editor’s note)“comments Laurent Attar Bayrou, former peacekeeper in Lebanon, on LCI. “For 45 years, UNIFIL has been helping the Lebanese. If it had not been there to testify, to bring back reports to the Security Council, we would no longer be in this situation. Perhaps the population would have completely emptied the south of the country. We would have a much bigger war.”he says.
The Israelis have always contested the place of UNIFIL
Laurent Attar Bayrou
According to the former soldier, making such a decision would play into the hands of the Jewish state. “The Israelis have always contested the place of UNIFIL, because this force prevents them from maneuvering (as they wish). It holds the high points, the hills, in the south of the country, so the Israelis do not have the freedom to maneuver are being discussed in New York, in front of the international community.he emphasizes. In other words, UNIFIL “hinders Israelis in their actions”.
Consequently, Laurent Attar Bayrou recommends not withdrawing UN soldiers, currently placed under the command of Spanish General Aroldo Lázaro, even temporarily. “It would be a feeling of failure. We don’t need to withdraw at this time”he insists, judging that if the international community had given more
room for maneuver for the peacekeepers, “maybe we wouldn’t be here anymore.” On the contrary, the one who also occupies the functions of national president of the National Federation of Former Foreign Missions of the French Army (FNAME) and president of the international association of UN Blue Helmets calls for strengthening the system on place. “10,000 men for 650 km² is not huge so UNIFIL should be strengthened and given new capabilities”he highlights.
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Shooting against UNIFIL in Lebanon: what is resolution 1701 that France calls to respect?
As a reminder, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) was established in March 1978 by the Security Council. Based in the south of the country, its mission is to help local populations and provide a buffer with Israel.
