UN peacekeepers are accused by IDF soldiers of facilitating Hezbollah terrorists as cease-fire violations rise.

With Israel and Hezbollah implementing a fragile cease-fire agreement, questions are being raised about the effectiveness of United Nations (U.N.) peacekeepers in enforcing U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701 and whether their continued presence will continue to benefit the Iran-backed terror group.

The cease-fire, brokered by the U.S. and France, began on Nov. 27 and aims to put an end to over a year of conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. Under the agreement, Hezbollah must withdraw north of the Litani River, and Israeli forces will withdraw from southern Lebanon within 60 days. However, the agreement is facing immediate challenges, with both sides accusing the other of violations. As a result, the role of the United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon (UNIFIL) is being closely scrutinized.

On Monday, Hezbollah fired two projectiles at Mount Dov, claiming Israeli cease-fire violations. In response, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared in Hebrew on X: "Hezbollah's attack on Mount Dov is a serious breach of the cease-fire, and Israel will respond with force. We are committed to maintaining the cease-fire and will respond to any violation by Hezbollah, regardless of its severity."

The cease-fire agreement is being implemented under a five-nation monitoring committee led by the U.S. to oversee the de-escalation process, which U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein has referred to as a "game-changer" in addressing longstanding limitations.

Javed Ali, a former U.S. counterterrorism official and an associate professor at the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan, pointed out the challenges faced by UNIFIL in implementing U.N. Security Council resolution 1701. He noted that the same issues are likely to arise again with the revised UNSCR 1701, where both the Lebanese Army and UNIFIL will be responsible for enforcing the resolution and preventing Hezbollah from violating its terms or rebuilding an operational infrastructure south of the Litani River that could threaten Israel.

Ali highlighted historical U.N. peacekeeping failures, including those in Somalia, Rwanda, and the Balkans, as cautionary examples. In the past, there have been instances where the U.N.'s peacekeeping forces were unable to prevent the outbreak or escalation of armed conflict between combatants in small countries with complex ethnic, tribal, or religious divisions.

A few weeks before the cease-fire, a documentary was filmed in the southern Lebanon village of Houla, capturing Israeli reserve soldiers as they moved cautiously from house to house, clearing each room as they advanced through a Hezbollah stronghold. Suddenly, gunfire erupted, forcing the troops to take cover as Hezbollah terrorists fired at them from nearby homes. The exchange intensified, with bullets cutting through the air, when an unexpected sight left the soldiers stunned: a UNIFIL convoy driving directly into the firefight.

The UNIFIL peacekeeper stepped out of the white U.N. vehicle, seemingly oblivious to the life-threatening battle unfolding around him. "It was a total surprise. The IDF soldiers were shocked," said Itai Anghel, an Israeli journalist embedded with the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). "The timing of the convoy’s arrival, as well as its route, made the soldiers suspect coordination with Hezbollah."

Anghel, a seasoned war reporter for the Israeli TV program "Uvda," recounted the surreal atmosphere. "I have previously reported on the battle in Houla during the Second Lebanon War 18 years ago, but this time, it was more intense," he stated. "Nearly every house in the village was filled with weapons - RPGs, rockets, and tunnels - all aimed at attacking Israeli villages just a few kilometers away."

Anghel observed the soldiers' dissatisfaction with UNIFIL's presence during the conflict. "The soldiers don't trust them," he said to Planet Chronicle Digital. "One soldier told me, 'If we leave these villages for UNIFIL to manage, it will all revert to how it was before - nothing will change.'"

An IDF official disclosed to Planet Chronicle Digital that during the 14 months of conflict in South Lebanon, Hezbollah utilized U.N. convoys to get near the border. A Hezbollah vehicle even joined the convoy and followed them to gather intelligence safely. Hezbollah cameras have been discovered on the fences of UNIFIL facilities, and in one instance, a massive tunnel was found just a few meters from a UNIFIL base. Given the difficulty of digging a tunnel in stone, it is inconceivable that Hezbollah was unaware of the noise and effort required to do so.

An ex-IDF fighter, who requested anonymity, recounted his experiences in southern Lebanon. "On our side was UNIFIL, and Hezbollah was just a few meters away," he stated. "As time passed, Hezbollah grew more audacious, setting up tents right on the border. Everyone knew they were there, yet nothing was done to stop them."

UNIFIL has highlighted its limited mandate in response to criticism. According to Andrea Teneti, a UNIFIL spokesperson, the implementation of Resolution 1701 is the responsibility of the parties, Lebanon and Israel. UNIFIL supports the parties' implementation, monitors, and reports on violations. However, the organization does not have the mandate to enforce the resolution or disarm Hezbollah by force.

Despite both parties failing to fulfill their obligations, the spokesperson highlighted the period of stability from 2006 to 2023 as proof of UNIFIL's contributions. UNIFIL acknowledged that the proliferation of weapons outside state control in southern Lebanon is a violation of Resolution 1701. The removal of unauthorized weapons can only be achieved through the full implementation of Resolution 1701, and there is no military solution.

"Hezbollah has successfully circumvented nearly all the conditions set forth in UNSCR 1701 since its implementation, according to Ali, who spoke to Fox New Digital. As a result, the group was able to establish fortified bunkers, weapons caches, command posts for mobile fighting squads, and firing positions for rockets, mortars, and other projectiles used to attack Israeli civilian and military targets. This operational buildup increased exponentially in the aftermath of October 7, 2023. Despite UNIFIL's efforts, the group was able to prevent little to no escalation in Hezbollah attacks after October 7."

Following the Hamas attack on Israel in October, Hezbollah opened a new front in the war along the northern border, launching hundreds of rockets, anti-tank missiles, and UAVs into Israeli territory. However, many of these attacks originated near UNIFIL bases. An IDF military official reported that over 430 Hezbollah projectiles have landed in and around UNIFIL outposts. Despite this, the U.N. has only named Hezbollah explicitly as responsible for these attacks twice.

"Both the IDF and Hezbollah are putting peacekeepers in danger through crossfire or deliberate acts, according to Teneti. We only name a party when we are certain about the source of fire impacting the mission and Hezbollah has been implicated in some of those attacks."

The IDF has given Planet Chronicle Digital additional evidence of Hezbollah's violations, including fortified positions and training centers. In one instance, a Hezbollah facility filled with weapons and attack plans was found only 200 meters away from a UNIFIL base. "To reach the U.N. base, you had to walk right past the facility," an IDF officer stated.

Michael, a former Danish soldier who worked with the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization in southern Lebanon, shared his experiences with the Danish newspaper BT. He revealed that Hezbollah controlled all the areas they were supposed to monitor, making it impossible for them to operate at night due to fear and prohibiting the taking of photos. Despite daily reports of violations, nothing changed.

With increasing reports of cease-fire violations, Israeli officials worry that Hezbollah's ongoing presence in southern Lebanon will result in renewed conflict, while UNIFIL maintains its role is solely to monitor and report.

The ceasefire has given a brief respite, but the future of its sustainability is uncertain. With Hezbollah firmly established and Israel questioning the effectiveness of UNIFIL, the mission's role is more crucial and contentious than ever.