Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) Commander General Rudolph Haikal emphasized the critical importance of continued coordination between the Lebanese Army and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) during a visit to the mission’s headquarters in Naqoura on Wednesday.
In a meeting with UNIFIL Commander Major General Aroldo Lázaro, Haikal underscored the necessity of maintaining cooperation within the framework of UN Security Council Resolution 1701. He also reviewed the latest security and operational developments in the South Litani sector, an area experiencing escalating tensions due to ongoing Israeli strikes on Lebanese territory.
In parallel, Haikal noted that the persistent Israeli attacks are directly hindering the LAF’s ability to fully deploy in the south, highlighting UNIFIL’s vital role in stabilizing the region.
The visit follows a series of altercations involving UNIFIL patrols and residents of southern Lebanon, some of whom are believed to be affiliated with Hezbollah.
On Tuesday, a man confronted a UNIFIL patrol in the town of Bedyas in the Tyre district, demanding that they leave and summon the Lebanese Army. When the peacekeepers refused, a verbal dispute ensued.
Shortly afterward, a second and more serious altercation took place in the Fuwar area between Deir Qanun al-Nahr and Hallussiyeh. Local residents blocked a UNIFIL convoy, insisting it could not proceed without a LAF escort. The confrontation escalated into a physical altercation during which a peacekeeper was reportedly slapped. The LAF intervened to defuse tensions, after which the UN patrol withdrew from the area.
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