UNSC Resolution 1701 and Israel’s Northern Front

As has been well documented, one of the most widely adopted strategies by terrorist groups Hezbollah and Hamas has been to embed themselves within civilian populations and civilian infrastructure.After the conclusion of the Second Lebanon War in 2006, the United Nations (U.N.) passed United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 1701.

This resolution called for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) to take necessary action and ensure the full disarmament of Hezbollah and other militant groups in southern Lebanon, the security and freedom of movement of all UN-related equipment and personnel, as well as full respect for the Blue Line between Israel and Lebanon. 

Here is an in-depth look into the background of the resolution and an explanation of how Hezbollah’s continuous violation poses a direct threat against Israeli civilians, Lebanese civilians, and the international community. 

The Background: The Blue Line and UNIFIL 

Established by UNSC Resolution 425, UNIFIL was created as a peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon. 

In May 1978, 11 terrorists from the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) infiltrated Israel from Lebanon and took control of an Israeli civilian bus. The attack killed 35 civilians and resulted in 71 wounded civilians. As a response, the IDF launched Operation Litani against PLO terrorist infrastructure located in southern Lebanon. By the end of the operation, 300 terrorists were eliminated. UNIFIL was established to help maintain order in southern Lebanon following these events. 

The ramifications of these events also played a large role in the current status of the Blue Line. In accordance with UNSC Resolution 425, Israel withdrew completely from Lebanese borders in 2000 and is obligated to remain south of the “Blue Line” between Israel and Lebanon. 

What is UNSC 1701? 

In August 2006, UNSC Resolution 1701 was adopted by both Israel and Lebanon after the Second Lebanon War. Here are some key points from the resolution: 

• Calling for an immediate end to all Hezbollah attacks and offensive Israeli military operations (Clause 1)
• Calling for Israel and Lebanon to support a permanent ceasefire based on full respect for the Blue Line (Clause 8)
• Authorizing “UNIFIL to take all necessary measures in its areas to ensure that its area of operations is not utilized for hostile activities of any kind, to resist attempts by forceful means to prevent it from discharging its duties under the mandate of the Security Council, and to protect United Nations personnel, facilities, installations and equipment, ensure the security and freedom of movement of United Nations personnel, humanitarian workers and, without prejudice to the responsibility of the Government of Lebanon, to protect civilians under imminent threat of physical violence” (Clause 12)

Hezbollah’s Continuous Violation of UNSC Resolution 1701

Based on this resolution, Hezbollah must not incite or carry out attacks from Lebanon towards Israel and must maintain a permanent ceasefire. 

One prime example of Hezbollah violating UNSCR 1701 became clear during Operation Northern Shield in 2018-2019, during which the IDF uncovered an underground terrorist tunnel network crossing the Blue Line into Israel, dug with the intention of attacking Israeli civilians. 

Another example of Hezbollah violating UNSCR 1701 has been occurring for years, as revealed in June 2017, that the terrorist organization had built five military observation posts along the Blue Line under the disguise of environmental organization “Green without Borders”.

Hezbollah Embedding Itself into Civilian Populations

In addition, Hezbollah has systematically embedded itself within civilian areas in order to enable its continued violations and attacks on Israel and Israeli civilians: 

• December 10, 2023: Hezbollah fired rockets towards Israel from a location 20 meters from a U.N. compound. 
• December 11, 2023: Hezbollah operatives launched a number of rockets at Israel from a location near a U.N. compound and a school. 
• December 18, 2023: Hezbollah fired at Israel from areas near U.N. and Lebanese Armed Forces posts.
• December 26, 2023: Hezbollah fired an anti-tank missile from inside Lebanon at the Greek Orthodox Church of Iqrit in northern Israel, injuring a civilian. 

These are just a few examples of instances of Hezbollah taking advantage of civilian spaces and threatening the lives of Israeli civilians.

Ramifications of Violations on Israel 

The IDF will continue to defend itself on its northern front against the threat of Hezbollah’s continuous attacks and violations of UNSC 1701 that endanger Israeli civilians. The IDF’s necessary actions to defend Israel from Hezbollah’s attacks are not violations of UNSCR 1701.