Lebanon filed a complaint with the UN Security Council on Tuesday against Israel over its continued violations of the ceasefire agreement and UN Resolution 1701.
The Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the complaint was filed through Lebanon’s permanent mission in New York in response to Israel’s violation of Resolution 1701 and the declaration of cessation of hostilities, as well as its total disregard for relevant security arrangements.
Resolution 1701, adopted on August 11, 2006, calls for a complete cessation of hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel and the establishment of a weapons-free zone between the Blue Line and the Litani River in southern Lebanon, excluding the Lebanese Army and UNIFIL.
According to the ministry, the complaint explains in detail the violations committed by Israel in southern Lebanon, including ground and air attacks, the destruction of homes and residential neighbourhoods, the abduction of Lebanese citizens, including soldiers, and attacks on civilians returning to their border villages.
The complaint highlighted Israeli attacks on Lebanese army patrols and journalists, as well as the removal of five demarcation markers along the Blue Line, the de facto border, calling these Israeli actions “blatant violations” of Resolution 1701 and Lebanese sovereignty.
It called on the UN Security Council and the sponsors of the truce to take a “firm and clear stance” against Israel’s violations and work to strengthen the Lebanese army and UNIFIL forces.
Fragile ceasefire
The fragile truce has been in place since November 27, ending a period of mutual shelling between Israel and Hezbollah that began on October 8, 2023 and escalated into full-scale conflict on September 23 last year.
Some 1.2 million people have been displaced in Lebanon. Thousands of residents began returning home after the ceasefire took effect. Lebanese media reported more than 830 Israeli violations since the agreement came into force.
Under the terms of the ceasefire agreement, Israel was supposed to complete its army withdrawal from Lebanon by January 26, but it refused and the deadline was extended to February 18, according to a White House statement.
At least 26 people have been killed and 221 wounded by Israeli shelling since January 26 as residents tried to return to villages in southern Lebanon.
