UNIFIL Troops 'Avoiding' Residents of Southern Lebanon

UNIFIL members in southern Lebanon. (UNIFIL)
UNIFIL members in southern Lebanon. (UNIFIL)
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UNIFIL Troops 'Avoiding' Residents of Southern Lebanon

UNIFIL members in southern Lebanon. (UNIFIL)
UNIFIL members in southern Lebanon. (UNIFIL)

Troops from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) have limited their activity to main roads in southern Lebanon, raising questions among the locals about whether they have been ordered to restrict their movement in wake of recent attacks against them.

Members of UNIFIL have been attacked on two separate occasions in December and January.

Asharq Al-Awsat toured the areas of operation of UNIFIL in the South where the locals have expressed their support for the international force and fears that it may withdraw from the area.

They believe UNIFIL is the last remaining international cover provided to Lebanon amid its successive crises.

The international troops are seen as a source of stability and financial support in the South, but the recent lack of interaction between them and the locals has raised concerns.

In the past, international troops dining at restaurants, shopping at grocers, visiting clinics and other public places was a common and welcome sight. Now, as they remain in their vehicles and avoid contact with the people, concerns have started to mount.

Locals who have spoken to Asharq Al-Awsat stressed that relations with UNIFIL cannot be undermined by any random incident.

The soldiers "have become our friends. They are no strangers to us."

In fact, they expressed their disappointment with the latest attacks against the troops, saying the perpetrators are of the minority that oppose the force and their affiliations are known.

They are only carrying out orders aimed at forcing the troops to restrict their movement, they explained.

UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti told Asharq Al-Awsat that the attacks have not deterred the troops from carrying out their duties.

They continue to communicate and coordinate with the Lebanese army, he stressed.

He said the peacekeepers will continue to implement UN Security Council resolution 1701.

UNIFIL carries out over 400 patrols and operations per day. It also contributes to small development projects, amounting to 7 million dollars annually, and provides job opportunities to over 600 Lebanese people.

Now, the soldiers are avoiding interacting with the locals so that their actions will not be exploited by some political powers - Hezbollah - to deliver a political message to the international force.

A field source told Asharq Al-Awsat that the opponents of UNIFIL make up no more than 3 percent of the local population.

"We know who they are. They are carrying out the orders aimed at restricting the troops' movement," he said.

Restricted movement
The first attack against UNIFIL took place in the town of Shakra on December 22 when locals accused the forces of taking photos of the area. The second took place in Bint Jbeil last week when people assaulted a UNIFIL patrol.

Tenenti told Asharq Al-Awsat that UNIFIL was coordinating closely with the Lebanese army in its areas of operation.

On claims that the troops were avoiding interacting with the locals, he said that the peacekeeping force has not changed its policies.

UNIFIL values that longstanding and fruitful relationship with the local population, he added.

Its priority lies in fulfilling its mandate, he stressed. UNIFIL is still committed to Lebanon and the people of the South and to preserving lasting peace.

Political messages
The two recent attacks have raised a number of questions over their motives and the political messages that were being directed at the international mission.

In a rare firm tone, the UN had urged the Lebanese authorities to probe the attacks and bring the perpetrators to justice.

"The denial of UNIFIL's freedom of movement and any aggression against those serving the cause of peace is unacceptable," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said after last week's attack.

"UNIFIL condemns attacks on men and women serving the cause of peace, which are violations of both Lebanese and international law," Kandice Ardiel, a UNIFIL press official, had also said last week.

She added that UNIFIL also condemns those who manipulate local residents to serve their purposes.

Lebanese political analyst Dr. Nassib Hoteit said the problems between the locals and UNIFIL stem from the former's questioning of some of the security roles played by some members of the force, not the entire mission.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, he said that "locals" refers to the actual residents themselves and to the unregulated popular resistance.

He acknowledged that problems between the people and UNIFIL are not uncommon, but they have grown in frequency in recent weeks.

Some people believe UNIFIL is veering away from its mission and is not coordinating its movement with the army. Such allegations are due to the security tensions in the South, he said.

The people are tense because the mounting crises and international pressure against Lebanon, he explained.

Moreover, Hoteit warned that problems will only increase if an international decision was taken to pull UNIFIL out of the South.

That will mean the removal of international cover over Lebanon. "UNIFIL is an important factor of stability in the country and it is an important symbol of international presence and recognition of Lebanon," he stressed.

Lebanese fears
Despite the tensions and concerns, the southerners don't believe that these incidents will impact the fate of UNIFIL.

Some have described them as "incidental" and not reflective of the people of the South.

Lebanese sources said the two recent attacks are "rare" and are usually resolved through the military.

This does not however, eliminate concerns. Hoteit, who hails from the South, said the withdrawal of UNIFIL would leave the region vulnerable to Israeli attacks that the country can do without as it grapples with major internal economic and political crises.

Projects worth millions
The security problems have not harmed the relations between the locals and the peacekeeping force.

In the town of Maarake in the Tyre province, the Malaysian contingent was invited to attend a wake to commemorate the victims of recent floods in the Asian country.

Such incidents reflect the unique ties that bind the locals to UNIFIL.

The southerners also benefit from projects carried out by UNIFIL that top 7 million dollars annually.

UNIFIL Commander Major General Stefano Del Col said last week that the soldiers had carried out over 180,000 field operation and over 400 projects and grants.

It has also offered support to the Lebanese army that is the foundation to the international force achieving its goal of providing lasting peace in southern Lebanon, he added.

Residents in Tyre have cited major development projects that were carried out by UNIFIL, such a sewage network in the border town of Naqoura. They have also offered health, agricultural and veterinary services.

In Marjeyoun, the locals credited the international force with installing solar panels to light up street lamps.

The international troops also contribute to the local economy. Over 10,000 soldiers make up UNIFIL and they shop for their daily needs at local markets. Furthermore, the international force has provided jobs to 630 Lebanese people, while 300 foreign workers and their families are also employed with it.

In Marjeyoun, two locals look at the solar-powered street lamps and say that without UNIFIL such an initiative would never have been implemented.

"Harming soldiers who have left behind their families to provide us with peace of mind and stability is totally unacceptable," they said.



What Trump’s New Weapons Plan for Ukraine Might Mean

US President Donald Trump meets with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, where President Trump announces a deal to send US weapons to Ukraine through NATO, in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, DC, US, July 14, 2025. (Reuters)
US President Donald Trump meets with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, where President Trump announces a deal to send US weapons to Ukraine through NATO, in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, DC, US, July 14, 2025. (Reuters)
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What Trump’s New Weapons Plan for Ukraine Might Mean

US President Donald Trump meets with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, where President Trump announces a deal to send US weapons to Ukraine through NATO, in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, DC, US, July 14, 2025. (Reuters)
US President Donald Trump meets with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, where President Trump announces a deal to send US weapons to Ukraine through NATO, in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, DC, US, July 14, 2025. (Reuters)

President Donald Trump has endorsed a plan to have European allies buy billions of dollars worth of US military equipment that can be transferred to Ukraine as Kyiv looks for way to better defend itself against intensified Russian attacks.

Trump announced the effort Monday during an Oval Office meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, who has been working with European countries to coordinate the purchase of US weapons.

The plan is designed to allow the US to funnel more firepower to Ukraine to combat invading Russian forces during their summer military offensive while easing Washington's financial burden.

Increased weapons shipments, combined with possible new penalties Trump has promised if a halt to the fighting isn't reached in 50 days, could push Russian President Vladimir Putin into peace talks that Trump has championed for months - so far with little to show for it.

Here's a look at what Trump promised and what it might mean:

The US plans to sell Patriot missile batteries - systems ideal for shielding territory against incoming missile attacks - and other weapons to European allies that would be transferred to Kyiv.

"We're going to supply weapons to NATO at a large amount," Trump said.

Rutte said Germany, Finland, Canada, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom and Denmark would be among the buyers to supply Ukraine, and noted that "speed is of the essence here."

Later Monday, during a meeting with his administration's faith office and business leaders, Trump said, "They're going to deliver the weapons, and they're going to pay for 100% of the weapons."

The president had earlier teased the announcement, but the details of the transfers - exactly what munitions they would include, the specifics of their delivery and their timing- were unclear.

Other parts of the administration deferred to the White House, where officials said details were still being worked out.

On a call with the other foreign ministers of the Quad grouping - India, Japan and Australia - Secretary of State Marco Rubio "underscored that it remains a priority of President Trump to bring the war to an end through a durable negotiated settlement," State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius met with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon to discuss some details - particularly related to the Patriot batteries - and noted greater defense spending.

"We are determined to assume greater responsibility for Europe's deterrence and defense," said Pistorius, whose government has offered to finance two additional Patriot systems.

In addition to Germany, Greece and Spain are among the NATO members believed to have spare Patriots to send to Ukraine, as long as they are eventually replaced.

US officials said that anything to be supplied to Ukraine in the short term will have to come from existing stockpiles and that it will take several years to replace whatever is sent to Kyiv.

Russia has pounded Ukrainian cities with hundreds of drones and cruise and ballistic missiles that its air defenses are struggling to counter. At the same time, Russia's bigger army is making a new effort to drive back Ukrainian defenders on parts of the 620-mile (1,000-kilometer) front line.

Trump announced last week that the US planned to send more defensive weapons to Ukraine, following a prior pause in some deliveries during a review of US stockpiles.

Still, the president expressed frustration about US resources going to Ukraine, reiterating Monday that "this is not Trump's war. We're here to get it finished and stopped."

During the meeting with Rutte, he also praised European leaders for being willing to take on a larger responsibility for arming Ukraine - a far cry from once criticizing Europe for failing to spend more on defense.

"I have to tell you, Europe has a lot of spirit for this war," Trump said. "When I first got involved, I didn't think they did, but they do."

Trump again vented his frustrations about stalled negotiations to end the war, saying the US will impose steep trade penalties if Moscow doesn't reach a peace deal with Kyiv in the next 50 days.

"Tariffs at about 100% - you'd call them secondary tariffs," Trump said without providing details.

Secondary tariffs would target Russia's trading partners in an effort to isolate Moscow in the global economy - potentially including nations that rely on Russia for oil and natural gas.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick later clarified that Trump was actually referring to economic sanctions, rather than tariffs.

Separately, some Republicans close to Trump, including South Carolina Sen. Lindsay Graham, are promoting a bipartisan sanctions package targeting Russia that is working its way through Congress.

Trump said Monday that "I'm not sure we need it" given his threat for economic consequences if the fighting continues. But, he added, "it could be very useful, we'll have to see."

An emboldened Russia has ramped up military offensives on two fronts in Ukraine, seeking an advantage before the fighting season wanes in the fall.

Trump's 50-day deadline will allow Kremlin forces to further expand into the strategic eastern logistics hub of Pokrovsk, the capture of which would hand them a major battlefield victory and bring them closer to acquiring the entire Donetsk region.

Russia's forces also have been pushing into Ukraine's northern Sumy region, where Putin hopes to create a "buffer zone" to protect Russia's Kursk and Belgorod regions and defend against the possibility of surprise Ukrainian incursions.

Trump long boasted of his friendly relationship with Putin, repeatedly asserting that Russia was more willing than Ukraine to reach a peace deal. At the same time, Trump accused Zelenskyy of prolonging the war and called him a "dictator without elections."

But Russia's relentless onslaught on civilian areas of Ukraine has worn down Trump's patience.

In April, he urged Putin to "STOP!" launching deadly barrages on Kyiv, and the following month he said in a social media post that the Russian leader "has gone absolutely CRAZY!"

Trump said Monday that he remains in frequent contact with Putin but questioned how much those talks have gotten him.

"My conversations with him are very pleasant, and then the missiles go off at night," Trump said.