A United Nations helicopter lands on the roof of Saint-Georges Greek Orthodox Hospital, Achrafieh in Beirut shortly after an Israeli strike in southern Lebanon, March 30 2024. (Credit: Olivia Le Poidevin/L'Orient-Le Jour)
Three UN military observers and an assistant were injured on Saturday morning during a foot patrol along the Blue Line between Lebanon and Israel following an "explosion" nearby, said a statement from UN peacekeeping force UNIFIL.
Earlier reports indicated that a vehicle carrying UN observers was hit by an "Israeli strike," but Israel quickly denied this through the army's Arabic-speaking spokesman, Avichay Adraee.
UNIFIL spokesman Andrea Tenenti said: "This morning, three military observers from the OGL [Observer Group Lebanon], UNTSO [United Nations Truce Supervision Organization, which helps UNIFIL to fulfill its mandate] and an Arabic-speaking assistant, probably a translator, who were carrying out a foot patrol along the Blue Line were injured when an explosion occurred near their position."
The four injured have been evacuated and are receiving medical treatment. UNIFIL is investigating the cause of the explosion. A UN helicopter was seen in Beirut in the morning, as it landed on the helipad of Saint-Georges Greek Orthodox Hospital, in the Achrafieh district.
"The safety of UN personnel must be guaranteed. All actors have a responsibility under international humanitarian law to ensure the protection of non-combatants, including peacekeepers," added Tenenti.
What is the OGL?
The OGL is part of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO), which has been present in the region since 1949 to ensure stability in the Middle East.
The UNTSO supports UNIFIL in carrying out its peacekeeping mandate by "observing, monitoring, reporting and/or investigating incidents" that may violate UN Security Council Resolution 1701. In broad terms, Resolution 1701 — which put an end to the 2006 war — provides for the withdrawal of Hezbollah from areas south of the Litani River in exchange for a halt to Israeli intrusions into sovereign Lebanese territory.
What is the Blue Line?
The Blue Line stretches for 120 km along the border in southern Lebanon, from Naqoura to Wazzani. 272 blue barrels show the precise path of this line.
This is not a border, but a "withdrawal line." It was established by the United Nations in 2000 to confirm the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon.
The Blue Line is temporary. The UN peacekeeping force is tasked with "maintaining calm and stability along this fragile border and avoiding provocations and unnecessary incidents that could lead to a crisis and potentially to conflict."
The Blue Line has become one of the central elements of Resolution 1701.
The war in southern Lebanon
Israel has been exchanging fire with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon for almost six months, in parallel with the war in Gaza.
Israeli bombardments of Lebanon have killed nearly 270 Hezbollah militiamen and around 50 civilians, including children, doctors and journalists, and have hit both UNIFIL and the Lebanese Army. Last November, UNIFIL claimed that one of its patrols had been hit by Israeli fire in southern Lebanon, without causing any casualties.
Last February, UNIFIL said that the Israeli army had violated international law by firing on a group of clearly identifiable journalists, killing a Reuters journalist.