UN: New Israeli wall blocks over 4,000 square metres of Lebanese land

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) reported on November 14 that segments of a border wall Israel is building along the Lebanese frontier encroach upon the UN-recognised Blue Line, describing the construction as a violation of Lebanon’s sovereignty.

Israel began work on the wall in 2018 to replace its ageing border fence with Lebanon, but progress has been slow. UNIFIL’s latest statement comes amid near-daily Israeli strikes targeting Hezbollah operatives in southern Lebanon, and continued US and Israeli pressure on Beirut to cut off the group’s funding and confiscate its arms.

UNIFIL detailed that in October, its observers “conducted a geospatial survey of a concrete T-wall erected by the Israel Defence Forces southwest of Yaroun.” The survey confirmed that the wall “crossed the Blue Line, rendering more than 4,000 square meters of Lebanese territory inaccessible to the Lebanese people.” UNIFIL said it informed the IDF of the findings and requested that the wall be relocated.

This month, UNIFIL reported observing further T-wall construction in the area, noting: “A survey confirmed that a section of wall southeast of Yaroun also crossed the Blue Line. We will formally inform the IDF of our findings here as well.”

UNIFIL stressed that “Israeli presence and construction in Lebanese territory are violations of Security Council resolution 1701 and of Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

Construction of the wall accelerated in early 2023 but halted with the outbreak of the war on October 7, 2023, following attacks by Hezbollah on Israel. Since the November 2024 ceasefire, work on the wall has resumed alongside the establishment of dozens of new Israeli army posts along the border.

UNIFIL reiterated its call on Israel to respect the Blue Line in its entirety and withdraw from all areas north of it. The IDF continues to maintain five positions inside southern Lebanon despite the November 2024 ceasefire.

The UN force added that a new section of the wall being built between Aitaroun and Maroun al-Ras remains on the Israeli side of the Blue Line.

By Tamilla Hasanova