Lebanese soldiers and UNIFIL peacekeepers in Kfarchouba, South Lebanon, on August 26, 2024. (Credit: Mohammad Yassine/L'Orient Today.)
BEIRUT — Residents of Bint Jbeil district's Jmaijmeh village condemned what they called "repeated violations by UNIFIL," accusing the peacekeeping force of "entering the area without Lebanese Army coordination and trespassing on private property."
The allegations came in the wake of a confrontation on Friday morning in which UNIFIL said its patrol was "attacked by civilians armed with metal sticks and axes."
According to a statement released by Jmaijmeh residents: “Following repeated violations by UNIFIL forces, who entered the Jmaijmeh hills for the second time without coordination with the Lebanese Army and trespassed on private property, the residents rushed to inspect their lands and requested that the UNIFIL forces withdraw and refrain from further incursions.”
“However, UNIFIL personnel began arguing with the residents," the statement continues, "throwing tear gas canisters at them and opening fire. Several injuries were reported as a result of the tear gas.”
Under the cease-fire agreement between Hezbollah and Israel, brought into effect on Nov. 27, the Lebanese Army and UNIFIL have been given expanded jurisdiction over southern Lebanon, as part of the process of Hezbollah withdrawing its military to north of the Litani River.
UNIFIL, in its own statement, acknowledged that its troops had not been accompanied by the Lebanese Army, but it still insisted that the patrol had in fact been planned with the army's cooperation.
UNIFIL's statement, released Friday morning, described the patrol as routine operational activity between the villages of Jmaijmeh and Khirbat Silm, both in Bint Jbeil district, and said this time, it "was confronted by a large group of individuals in civilian clothing."
According to the statement, "the individuals attempted to block the patrol using aggressive means, including metal sticks and axes, resulting in damage to UNIFIL vehicles. Fortunately, no injuries were reported."
In response, UNIFIL peacekeepers used "non-lethal force to ensure the safety of both the peacekeepers and those present," the statement added.
UNIFIL confirmed that the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) were immediately informed and promptly arrived at the scene, subsequently escorting the patrol back to base. The peacekeeping mission emphasized that the patrol had been pre-planned and coordinated with the LAF.
On Sunday dozens of residents of Yater, in Bint Jbeil, expressed their discontent against UNIFIL soldiers, accusing them of operating without being accompanied by the Lebanese Army. Contacted by L'Orient Today, the U.N. force had reported one of its vehicles being blocked by residents, but that tensions were resolved "peacefully," particularly with the help of the troops.