The UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, UNIFIL, has stated that the Israeli military is building walls inside Lebanese territory that extend beyond the Blue Line, the unofficial border between the two countries. The mission urged Israel to dismantle the structures and fully respect the border.

Details on the Blue Line and the Wall

UNIFIL reported that Israel constructed a “concrete T wall” near the southern Lebanese town of Yaroun. The wall extends beyond the Blue Line, making over 4,000 square meters of Lebanese land inaccessible to the public.

The Blue Line, established by the UN in 2000, is a 120-kilometer unofficial border confirming Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanon. UNIFIL also noted that other sections of the wall cross the line and has formally requested Israel to remove them.

Israel’s Statement and Plans

The Israeli army said the construction is part of a broader plan initiated in 2022. Military sources emphasized that the physical barrier along the northern border is being reinforced and that the wall does not cross the Blue Line.

Reaction from Lebanon and UNIFIL

UNIFIL described Israel’s activities as a violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Resolution 1701, passed in 2006, called for the cessation of hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel and the creation of a buffer zone between the Blue Line and the Litani River.

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Selam also called on Israel to halt military escalation in southern Lebanon, warning that the actions threaten regional stability.