Netanyahu calls on UN to withdraw peacekeepers from Lebanon’s border

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called on U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres to withdraw U.N. peacekeeping forces from southern Lebanon. There, the Israeli army is carrying out a ground operation against Hezbollah.

Hezbollah is an armed group and a party represented in the Lebanese parliament.

In recent days, several U.N. peacekeepers were injured in those actions. Many countries have condemned Israel, calling on it to stop endangering the lives of peacekeepers. Israel expressed regret over the incidents, noting that the military struck the targets of Hezbollah—which the U.S. has designated as a terrorist organization, while the EU has blacklisted only its armed wing—close to the U.N. observation centers.

According to Netanyahu, the U.N. peacekeepers, remaining in their positions near the border, are turning into Hezbollah hostages.

U.N. peacekeeping forces have been stationed on the Lebanese-Israeli border since 1978, and their mandate is renewed every six months.