Nearly 10,000 UN peacekeepers, including 700 French, patrol a few kilometers from the demarcation line between Israel and Lebanon. In recent days, the risks of escalation of the conflict between the two countries weigh on their mission.
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Among the 700 French peacekeepers who depend on UNIFIL (the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon), 550 soldiers carry out an observation mission on the border between Lebanon and Israel. Thursday, November 2, they received a visit from the French Minister of the Armed Forces, Sébastien Lecornu, in a context of rising tensions between the two countries.
The light armored vehicles, white in color and bearing the “UN” logo, patrol for hours around the “blue line”, these blue barrels which separate Lebanon and Israel. Objective: observe, report information and make the connection. With the intensification of exchanges of fire between Hezbollah and Israel, there is no longer any question of patrolling on foot.
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The impact of declarations by French politicians
Soldiers are particularly exposed during their visits. And French political speeches sometimes turn the tide. “The population can be totally benevolent in a city the first time we pass through. And then [en fonction des] international events, we feel this tension which suddenly appears…”, reports Sergeant Alexandre, who leads the patrols, alluding to France’s first declarations of support for Israel.
The appearance of the land is also changing. “Some villages that were lively are almost deserted, there are shell impacts appearing”, testifies Jérémy, the leader of the group. Several tens of thousands of Lebanese have already left their villages, according to the UN. Recently a soldier from the organization was also injured in a strike, but there is no need to be afraid. “It’s the job”, said a soldier.