UNIFIL personnel, including Indian troops, maintain peace, prevent escalation, and ensure compliance with the UN mandate, stabilizing Lebanon’s volatile region without engaging in direct combat.
New Delhi: As the conflict in the Middle East intensifies, over 100,000 people have been displaced in recent days as Israel continues its military operations in Lebanon. Indian Army personnel stationed at the Israel-Lebanon border, under the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), are closely monitoring the evolving situation.
Sources from the defense establishment report that 670 Indian personnel are currently deployed along the Blue Line, a demarcation created after Israel’s 2000 withdrawal from Lebanon. These soldiers are actively observing the escalating conflict, which has intensified with recent attacks, including explosions involving pager and walkie-talkies across Lebanon. An Indian Army source stationed in Lebanon mentioned, “Bombardments have become routine to dismantle terror groups, but so far, UNIFIL camps have not been directly targeted. However, the situation remains extremely dangerous.”
The role of UNIFIL personnel, including the Indian contingent, is to maintain peace and prevent further escalation. They do not engage in direct military operations between Israel and Hezbollah but serve as stabilizing forces. Indian troops, stationed mainly on the outskirts of Beirut, ensure compliance with the UN mandate and help sustain a fragile peace in the region.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) continue targeting Hezbollah strongholds and weapons storage sites in Lebanon. On Friday, one of these strikes reportedly resulted in the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, though the exact details remain unverified.
India’s contribution to global UN peacekeeping missions is significant, with around 6,000 soldiers deployed worldwide. Tragically, 159 Indian soldiers have lost their lives during these missions over the decades. One notable loss was that of Colonel (Retd) Vaibhav Anil Kale, a former Security Coordination Officer with the UN’s Department of Safety and Security (DSS), who was killed in May while on duty in Gaza. Following his death, the United Nations expressed regret to India over the incident.