Mister President,

Members of the Security Council,

The situation has dangerously deteriorated with the ongoing escalation between Hizbullah and Israel across the Blue Line and beyond. Ongoing ground advances by the Israel Defense Forces – extending up to 11 kilometres – amidst fierce clashes with Hizbullah – and unprecedented levels of airborne exchanges. The Israel Defense Forces are in control of substantial areas immediately north of the Blue Line. The civilian suffering from the hostilities continues to mount.

UNIFIL – on the ground carrying out its mission given by this Council – has now also suffered fatalities. The Secretary-General has strongly condemned the two abhorrent incidents that led to the deaths of three of our peacekeepers in 24 hours and the serious injury of several others.

Yesterday morning, two Indonesian peacekeepers lost their lives in an explosion that destroyed their vehicles, near Bani Hayyan in Sector East. Two more peacekeepers were injured, one seriously. Initial findings point to a roadside explosion striking the convoy.
The day prior, that is the 29 March, a peacekeeper also of the Indonesian contingent was killed in an explosion inside a UNIFIL base in Ett Taibe in Sector East. Another peacekeeper was critically wounded and was evacuated to a hospital in Beirut. According to an initial assessment, the explosion was caused by a projectile that hit the base.
These tragic developments should not have happened. I express my deepest condolences to the families of the fallen peacekeepers and the Government of Indonesia. I also wish a full recovery to those injured.
UNIFIL is conducting investigations to determine the circumstances of these reprehensible developments.

Mr. President,

These are sadly not the only dangerous incidents faced by UNIFIL’s courageous peacekeepers. There has been a worrying increase in denials of freedom of movement and aggressive behaviour.

On 28 March, the Israel Defense Forces, at a newly established checkpoint on the coastal road 4 kilometres north of UNIFIL Naqoura Headquarters, fired warning shots at a UNIFIL patrol. The rear UNIFIL vehicle was impacted by one round. On the patrol’s return, an Israel Defense Forces tank at the same checkpoint fired a main armament round, which impacted 15 metres from the UNIFIL vehicle, causing a puncture.

On 30 March, a UNIFIL patrol near Dayr Qanun An Nahr in Sector West was subjected to heavy small arms fire from a group of approximately 20 individuals blocking the road. An explosion next to the patrol vehicles was also reported. The patrol returned fire and disengaged, returning to Naqoura Headquarters.

Thankfully, these attacks did not lead to injuries.

We say it clearly, and there has been a need to say it far too often: Peacekeepers must never be a target. All acts that endanger the peacekeepers must immediately stop. All actors must adhere to their obligations to ensure the safety and security of the peacekeepers at all times. The inviolability of United Nations installations must be respected.

I wish to acknowledge and applaud the extraordinary commitment and courage of the women and men of UNIFIL implementing Security Council mandate tasks in these extremely dangerous conditions, as far as the security circumstances allow andI express my deepest gratitude to them.

Mr. President,

Since Hizbullah on 2 March claimed an attack on Israel, the group has conducted daily strikes, including with rockets, missiles and drones at targets in Israel and the occupied Syrian Golan. UNIFIL continues to report hundreds of launches from the Mission’s area of operations, which demonstrates the presence of unauthorised armed personnel, assets and weapons south of the Litani River, in clear violation of resolution 1701.

As reported earlier, the Israel Defense Forces have issued displacement orders for the entire UNIFIL area of operations and continue to conduct intensified daily strikes, also in violation of resolution 1701. Politicians in Israel now openly speak of the intention of an extended so-called “security” or “buffer zone”, with the destruction of villages along the Blue Line and several bridges across the Litani River.

In the last week only, thousands of trajectories were observed in both directions – as well as attacks by fighter aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles.

The Israel Defense Forces are advancing deeper into Lebanon, and clashes have been observed including in very close proximity to UNIFIL Headquarters in Naqoura, which has been the subject of multiple impacts.

The Lebanese Armed Forces - despite staying out of the conflict - have suffered casualties. On Monday, one Lebanese Armed Forces soldier was killed and several others injured at their checkpoint on the road between Naqoura and Tyre.

Mr. President,

Faced with immense pressure, including intensified exchanges of fire, direct attacks, obstructions of movement and resupply, UNIFIL continuously reassesses the force’s posture to mitigate risks, strengthening force protection, reducing footprint, and adjusting operational activities.

UNIFIL continues constant contact with the parties to avoid misunderstandings, de-conflict and de-escalate where possible. UNIFIL’s current focus includes ensuring safety of its personnel and helping facilitate humanitarian access to affected communities in the area. Peacekeepers, in close coordination with the Lebanese Armed Forces, have delivered essential supplies – including food, medicine, and hygiene kits – to civilians who remain living in precarious conditions in hard-to-reach areas near the Blue Line.

Mr. President,

As UNIFIL continues to face these extreme challenges amid continuing intensified hostilities, our efforts to support the parties to fully implement resolution 1701 are critical. In this exceptionally dangerous period, the Council's strong and unified backing for UNIFIL and its peacekeepers is not merely important — it is indispensable.

The women and men serving under this mandate – the mandate from this Council - must know that this Council stands firmly behind them. We are sincerely grateful to the Troop-Contributing Countries that remain united and committed to UNIFIL and the implementation of its mandate.

Only the full implementation of Security Council resolution 1701 by both parties will enable a long-term solution to the conflict. We urge all parties to recommit to the resolution and work meaningfully toward that end.

Thank you Mr. President.