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Unexploded ordnance threat: UN peacekeepers find 73 devices in southern Lebanon
In the last six months, the Western Sector Command of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) reported the discovery of 73 unexploded ordnance (UXOs) in southern Lebanon. These findings were promptly communicated to the Lebanese Army, which has since deployed specialized units to neutralize the threats.
"Peacekeepers in the western sector carried out risk-reduction operations, identifying and reporting 73 unexploded devices. The Lebanese Army was immediately notified, enabling quick intervention to clear and secure potentially hazardous zones," stated a UNIFIL press release on Thursday.
The discovery follows months of heightened tensions between Hezbollah and Israel, which engaged in conflict from October 2023 until a ceasefire in late November 2024. Despite the truce, Israeli forces continue to carry out airstrikes, mostly in southern Lebanon, and maintain control of five positions inside Lebanese territory.
"The safety of civilians in southern Lebanon remains a top priority," the statement added. UNIFIL’s actions are conducted under the framework of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, adopted in 2006 and reaffirmed in the 2024 ceasefire agreement.
UNIFIL explained that its clearance missions are performed both independently and in coordination with the Lebanese Army. This joint effort aims to protect local communities, particularly farmers and children, from hidden explosive hazards. According to the statement, the collaboration has successfully returned portions of land to safe civilian use.
Brigadier General Nicola Mandolesi, commander of UNIFIL’s western sector, urged residents to report any suspicious objects and avoid touching them, as some devices may date back to the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah or recent conflicts.
Several Israeli munitions failed to detonate during the 2023–2024 conflict, particularly in the South, the Bekaa Valley, and Beirut's southern suburbs. In some tragic instances, these remnants have injured or killed civilians and Lebanese soldiers.
