Israel-Hezbollah war: India expresses concern over ‘security situation’ along Lebanon border – Times of India

The central government on Friday expressed concern over the deteriorating situation along the Israel-Lebanon border, saying “inviolability of UN premises must be respected by all”.
The statement by the government has come in the wake of reports that a few people were injured after Israeli forces allegedly fired at the UN peacekeeping force base in southern Lebanon.
“We are concerned about the deteriorating security situation along the Blue Line. We continue to monitor the situation closely. Inviolability of UN premises must be respected by all, and appropriate measures taken to ensure the safety of UN peacekeepers and the sanctity of their mandate,” the ministry of external affairs said in a statement it issued on Friday.
The United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon (UNIFIL) has increased its presence along the ‘Blue Line,’ the boundary between Lebanon and Israel.
A UN source told The Times Of Israel that “Israeli forces fired at an observation post belonging to the UNIFIL peacekeeping force at its main base at Naqoura in southern Lebanon earlier this morning, wounding two people”.
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in 2006 passed Resolution 1701 to end a month-long war between Israel and Hezbollah and to improve security along the Israel-Lebanon border.
Despite nearly two decades of relative calm, the resolution’s terms have not been fully enforced.
The resolution aimed to have Israeli forces withdraw, leaving the Lebanese army and UN peacekeepers, known as UNIFIL, as the sole armed forces south of Lebanon’s Litani River.

How much value does the resolution hold now?

Violations along the border have persisted, with Israel accusing Hezbollah of maintaining a military presence and using a local environmental organization to spy on its troops.
Lebanon has reported incursions by Israeli jets and naval ships. Efforts by the West for a temporary ceasefire reflect that Resolution 1701 is still viewed as crucial.
However, the situation has become more complicated since 2006, with Hezbollah’s involvement in regional conflicts and its significant military capabilities.