Deep in the wooded valleys of southern Lebanon, UN peacekeepers have made a startling discovery: a hidden Hezbollah bunker equipped with a powerful artillery cannon. This unearthing sheds new light on regional complexities and the fragile ceasefire. What does this mean for stability near the Israeli border?
In a significant development close to the volatile Israeli border, United Nations peacekeepers have unveiled a clandestine Hezbollah bunker in southern Lebanon. This discovery, made in a wooded valley, highlights the persistent challenges facing Southern Lebanon security and the ongoing efforts to dismantle militant infrastructure within this former Hezbollah stronghold, amidst broader Middle East tensions.
The revelation comes as the UN Security Council recently voted to conclude the peacekeeping mission of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) by 2027. This decision follows considerable opposition from both the United States and Israel, underscoring the complex diplomatic landscape surrounding the peacekeeping operations and the future of security in the region.
During a reconnaissance mission, Captain Tanguy, commander of the French reconnaissance and intervention troops, guided AFP journalists to the site. He detailed how the valley had been identified as an area of “valuable interest” due to its previous targeting by the Israeli military during the ongoing Israel-Lebanon conflict, suggesting its strategic importance.
Inside the unearthed Hezbollah bunker, peacekeepers discovered a 152 mm calibre Russian-made artillery cannon. Captain Tanguy noted that the weapon was positioned facing eastward and southward, indicating its potential operational scope and raising serious questions about the nature and intent of its concealment by Hezbollah.
Under a US-brokered ceasefire agreement, both Hezbollah and Israel were mandated to withdraw forces from southern Lebanon. Concurrently, UNIFIL, working alongside the Lebanese army, has been tasked with the crucial mission of dismantling Hezbollah’s extensive network of infrastructure, which includes numerous hidden tunnels and fortifications as part of the wider peacekeeping mission.
The Lebanese group itself has been significantly weakened, and as part of the ceasefire conditions, it is required to withdraw from its positions in southern Lebanon. However, the discovery of such sophisticated military installations suggests a persistent challenge to these disarmament efforts and raises concerns about continued militant activities and Southern Lebanon security.
Under intense pressure from the United States and amidst fears of an escalation in Israeli military action, Lebanon’s government has recently instructed its army to devise a comprehensive plan for disarming Hezbollah by the end of the current year. This mandate signals a critical juncture in the country’s efforts to assert state authority and establish lasting peace, potentially easing Middle East tensions.
Despite the existing truce, Israel has maintained its military presence at five strategic points within Lebanon. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has previously indicated that these troops would be withdrawn only upon the successful disarmament of Hezbollah, further entangling the fate of Israeli forces with the ongoing efforts to demilitarize southern Lebanon and resolve the Israel-Lebanon conflict.
Approximately 10,800 peacekeepers are currently stationed in southern Lebanon, a region where UNIFIL has been continuously deployed since shortly after the Israeli invasion of 1978. Colonel Arnaud de Coincy, the commanding officer of UNIFIL‘s quick-reaction Force Commander Reserve, reiterated the peacekeepers’ commitment to supporting the Lebanese army in restoring full state authority across the south, vital for regional stability and the overall peacekeeping mission.
