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The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon has accused Israeli aircraft of dispersing chemical substances of unknown composition over southern Lebanon, marking the latest incident in what the peacekeeping mission describes as a pattern of unacceptable activity that violates UN Security Council resolutions.
Israel notified UNIFIL on Thursday morning that they would release a chemical substance over areas near the Blue Line, the border demarcation in southern Lebanon, according to a statement from the peacekeeping mission. The advance warning instructed peacekeepers to stay away from the area and remain indoors, forcing UNIFIL to cancel more than 10 operations.
The mission is now supporting the Lebanese army in collecting samples to determine whether the substance is toxic. UNIFIL emphasized that such chemical dispersal activities are not new but constitute violations of Security Council Resolution 1701 and limit the peacekeeping force's ability to carry out its mandate.
"The deliberate and planned actions of the Israeli army endanger the health of UNIFIL personnel and civilians," the statement said, calling for an immediate halt to all activities that put peacekeepers and civilians at risk.
Lebanon's Environment Ministry launched an immediate response after receiving reports of suspicious substances sprayed by Israeli aircraft over the border town of Atya esh-Shaab and surrounding areas. Environment Minister Tamara ez-Zeyn contacted the Lebanese army to arrange sample collection for analysis of the chemical material's composition.
The Agriculture Ministry announced it had received initial samples from the affected areas in coordination with the Lebanese army and UNIFIL. The samples will be sent to specialized laboratories in Beirut for scientific examination, with appropriate measures to follow based on results, the ministry said.
UNIFIL's statement stressed that Israeli chemical dispersal operations represent a recurring problem rather than an isolated incident. The peacekeeping mission called on all parties to provide full cooperation to restore stability in the region.
The incident adds to tensions along Lebanon's southern border, where UNIFIL has documented multiple Israeli violations of the ceasefire agreement established after the 2006 Lebanon War.
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The UN Security Council established UNIFIL on March 19, 1978, following Israel's incursion into Lebanese territory during the civil war. The mission's mandate includes verifying Israeli force withdrawals, restoring peace and security, and supporting Lebanon's government in reestablishing authority over the south.
Resolution 1701, adopted unanimously by the Security Council on August 11, 2006, ended the intense conflict that began July 12, 2006, between Lebanon and Israel. The resolution requires Israel to withdraw behind the Blue Line and calls for demilitarization of the zone between that boundary and Lebanon's Litani River, permitting only Lebanese army and UNIFIL weapons and military equipment in the area.
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