United Nations Special Coordinator Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert emphasized the necessity of halting conflict along the Blue Line during a meeting on Thursday with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) Head of Mission and Force Commander Aroldo Lázaro and peacekeepers stationed in south Lebanon.
“Our joint efforts are aimed at restoring stability along the Blue Line after over eight months of intense fire exchanges (between Israël and Hezbollah) that have severely disrupted tens of thousands of lives on both sides,” the special coordinator stated following her visit to the UNIFIL headquarters.
“It is crucial for all sides to stop the firing and for the parties to commit to sustainable solutions in line with Security Council Resolution 1701. There is no inevitability to conflict,” Hennis-Plasschaert said, stressing the importance of negotiations to restore peace at the southern border.
Lieutenant General Lázaro reiterated UNIFIL’s commitment to peace. “Despite the current challenges, peacekeepers will continue to support the implementation of Resolution 1701 on the ground and to engage both parties through our liaison and coordination mechanisms. We will continue to work closely with the special coordinator to urge de-escalation and steps toward a lasting political and diplomatic solution,” he said.
Earlier on Thursday, UNIFIL expressed deep concern over the escalating confrontations on both sides of the Blue Line. In an interview with al-Arabiya television, UNIFIL’s Media Office Deputy Director Candice Ardell warned of the dangers of miscalculation in the current climate. “A miscalculation could lead to a sudden and broader conflict,” she cautioned.
