The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said on August 19 that civilians in southern Lebanon are bearing severe consequences as Israel has significantly increased its military operations over the past two weeks.
According to a UNIFIL statement, the force recorded an average of 137 artillery shells fired per day from August 5–16. On Saturday (August 16) alone, 208 shells were counted, with 185 on Sunday (August 17), reflecting continuously rising tensions.
This escalation comes despite the extended ceasefire under the June 26 framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel. The U.S.-mediated deal tied the truce to the disarmament of Hezbollah in Lebanon but did not specifically address the withdrawal of Israeli forces, which still occupy several areas in southern Lebanon.
Hezbollah has rejected the agreement and stated it will not consent until Israel fully withdraws from Lebanon.
UNIFIL stated: “As tensions escalate, civilians once again pay the highest price, with many families displaced or forced to alter their daily routines due to insecurity and instability.”
The peacekeeping force said it maintains its presence through patrols, monitoring, clearing road obstructions, mitigating risks from explosive materials, and facilitating humanitarian aid operations. UNIFIL emphasized that UN Security Council Resolution 1701 remains the fundamental framework for restoring stability in southern Lebanon.
Resolution 1701, adopted in 2006, calls for an end to hostilities between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah, while also strengthening the deployment of the Lebanese army and UNIFIL in the southern region.
On the same day, August 19, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun expressed support for extending UNIFIL’s mandate and applying a formula that ensures the continued presence of international forces in the area. UNIFIL’s mission in southern Lebanon is expected to expire at the end of this year, amid international debate over the force’s future and role. The Lebanese government in Beirut stressed that maintaining UNIFIL’s presence is a key factor for stability in the south.
Earlier, Ziad Abu Rish, an associate professor of Middle East studies at Bard College (USA), opined that Israel aims to escalate attacks on Lebanon to “demonstrate unwavering resolve” to occupy the south, while “delivering a blow” to both Hezbollah and Lebanese civilians. He argued that Israel’s policy is collective punishment of the Lebanese people, particularly the predominantly Shia Muslim areas in the south.
Under the June 26 framework agreement, Israel agreed to withdraw from several major areas in southern Lebanon after Hezbollah disarms, allowing the Lebanese army to deploy and secure the border region. However, this has not occurred. The Lebanese government and Israel held a seventh round of talks earlier this month without concrete results.
Since March 2, the death toll from Israel’s repeated attacks on southern Lebanon has reached 4,346 people, following 11 deaths in two separate airstrikes on August 16.
