Israeli Forces Halt UNIFIL Convoy, Forcing Contractors Back to Beirut
Key Takeaways
- Israeli forces halted UNIFIL convoy from Beirut to Naqoura near destination.
- UN-marked vehicles proceeded; local contractors were sent back to Beirut.
- UNIFIL condemned the interception, citing disruption to its operations.
UNIFIL Convoy Halted
UNIFIL reported that Israeli forces obstructed a routine logistical convoy carrying military and civilian peacekeepers and contractors.
UN-marked vehicles were later allowed to proceed, but contractors were forced to return to Beirut despite prior coordination.
UNIFIL stressed that the incident is not isolated, citing similar disruptions involving roadblocks or revoked clearances.
The mission warned that such restrictions could hinder the delivery of essential supplies including food, fuel, and water.
UNIFIL called on Israeli occupation forces to respect previously agreed arrangements.
Operational Impact
UNIFIL warned that maintaining movement restrictions risks jeopardizing ongoing operations.
The mission consists of nearly 8,200 troops from 47 countries.
Three Indonesian peacekeepers have been killed in successive incidents in late March.
Naqoura has been under Israeli army control for several weeks.
UNIFIL reiterated its call on the Israeli army to honor agreements made.
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