In recent days, Israel has continued its military operations in Lebanon, resulting in the displacement of over 100,000 individuals as the conflict in the Middle East intensifies. Indian Army personnel, who are stationed at the Israel-Lebanon border under the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), are closely monitoring the changing situation.
According to sources within the defense establishment, 670 Indian personnel are currently stationed along the Blue Line, a demarcation established subsequent to Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanon in 2000. These soldiers are currently engaged in the observation of the escalating conflict, which has been further exacerbated by recent attacks, such as explosions involving pagers and walkie-talkies that have occurred throughout Lebanon.
“Bombardments have become routine to dismantle terror groups, but UNIFIL camps have not been directly targeted,” stated a source from the Indian Army stationed in Lebanon. Nevertheless, the situation continues to be exceedingly perilous.
The Indian contingent, as well as other UNIFIL personnel, are responsible for the preservation of peace and the prevention of further escalation. They do not participate in direct military operations between Israel and Hezbollah; rather, they function as stabilizing forces. Indian troops, who are primarily stationed on the outskirts of Beirut, are responsible for maintaining a fragile peace in the region and ensuring that the UN mandate is adhered to.
Hezbollah strongholds and weapons storage sites in Lebanon are still being targeted by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). According to reports, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed in one of these strikes on Friday; however, the precise circumstances are still unknown.
India has deployed approximately 6,000 soldiers worldwide to participate in global UN peacekeeping missions, which is a substantial contribution. These missions have resulted in the tragic loss of 159 Indian soldiers over the course of several decades.
Colonel (Retd) Vaibhav Anil Kale, a former Security Coordination Officer with the UN’s Department of Safety and Security (DSS), was killed in May while on duty in Gaza. This was a significant loss. The United Nations conveyed its apologies to India for the incident following his passing.
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