Lebanon to file UN complaint over 'Israeli' border wall in south

Lebanon plans to file a complaint with the UN Security Council accusing 'Israel' of building a concrete wall in southern Lebanon, an allegation denied by 'Israel', the Lebanese presidency announced.

Earlier, the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said the 'Israeli' army had constructed a concrete wall near the Blue Line separating the two countries.

Responding to a query from AFP, the 'Israeli' army claimed the wall “does not cross the Blue Line.”

Read more: 'Israel' begins building concrete wall behind Blue Line in southern Lebanon

On Saturday, the Lebanese presidency said President Joseph Aoun instructed Foreign Minister Joseph Raji to task Lebanon’s permanent UN mission with submitting an urgent complaint to the Security Council. The complaint alleges that 'Israel’s' construction of the wall along the southern border crosses the Blue Line, the UN-demarcated withdrawal line established after 'Israel’s' withdrawal in 2000.

President Aoun requested that the complaint be accompanied by UN reports that contradict 'Israel’s' denial of the wall’s construction.

UNIFIL findings

UNIFIL said its units conducted a geographical survey last month of a concrete wall built by the 'Israeli' Occupation Forces southwest of the town of Yaroun. The survey found that the wall “crossed the Blue Line, making more than 4,000 square meters of Lebanese land inaccessible to the Lebanese people.”

This month, UN peacekeepers observed additional construction work on the wall, noting that part of it southeast of Yaroun “crossed the Blue Line.” UNIFIL reported the initial survey findings to the 'Israeli' army and requested the wall be relocated.

The 'Israeli' army said the wall is part of a wider plan initiated in 2022. It added that, since the outbreak of the conflict, it has continued a series of measures, including reinforcing the physical barrier along the northern border, based on "lessons learned from the war."

Read more: UN peacekeepers say ‘Israel’ built walls inside Lebanon

Violation of UN resolution

UNIFIL stated that 'Israel’s' presence and construction activities on Lebanese territory violate UN Security Council Resolution 1701, as well as Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Resolution 1701 ended the 2006 conflict between 'Israel' and Hezbollah and formed the basis of the ceasefire reached between the two sides on 27 November 2024. UNIFIL has repeatedly called on the 'Israeli' army to respect the full Blue Line and withdraw from all areas north of it.

Lebanon accuses 'Israel' of violating the ceasefire by conducting strikes and maintaining forces inside Lebanese territory, while 'Israel' accuses Hezbollah of attempting to rebuild its military capabilities.