Spanish PM says ‘no withdrawal’ of UN Lebanon force

Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez speaks during the ‘World in Progress Barcelona’ forum in Barcelona on October 14, 2024. Photo courtesy: AFP

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Monday (October 14, 2024) that there will be “no withdrawal” of UN peacekeeping forces from southern Lebanon following Israeli attacks and calls to leave.

The Israeli attack against the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia has put the UNIFIL force deployed in Lebanon since 1978 in the spotlight.

The force, which includes about 9,500 soldiers from around 50 countries led by a Spanish general, has in recent days Multiple Israeli attacks reported This left five of its soldiers injured and drew international condemnation.

On Sunday (October 13, 2024), Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on UNIFIL to withdraw for their own safety, saying their presence “has the effect of providing a human shield to Hezbollah terrorists”.

Spain condemns Netanyahu’s call to withdraw the force and “there will be no withdrawal of UNIFIL,” Sanchez said from a forum in Barcelona.

Mr. Sanchez reaffirmed his commitment to a 2006 UN Security Council resolution agreed after the last major Israel-Hezbollah conflict, which stated that only the Lebanese Army and the United Nations should remain in South Lebanon. Peacekeepers should be deployed.

“That commitment makes more sense today than ever after seeing what’s happening on the ground,” Mr. Sanchez said.

Israel has committed an “unacceptable” violation of international law and Spain will continue to contribute to the force “because we have a firm and clear commitment to peace”, Defense Minister Margarita Robles told reporters in Madrid.

Mr Sanchez has become a harsh critic of the Netanyahu government’s war in Gaza, which was sparked by Hamas’ unprecedented attack on Israel last year.

The war has drawn in Iran-backed groups from across the region, including Hezbollah, after Israel last month stepped up cross-border shelling with the group and launched ground attacks in southern Lebanon.