Lebanon is preparing to file an urgent complaint with the UN Security Council against Israel for constructing a concrete wall that encroaches on Lebanese territory across the UN-demarcated Blue Line, a move decried as an act of aggression and a violation of national sovereignty .
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) confirmed the territorial violation after its peacekeepers conducted a geospatial survey of a concrete T-wall erected by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) southwest of the Lebanese town of Yaroun . The survey confirmed the wall crossed the Blue Line, "rendering more than 4,000 square metres of Lebanese territory inaccessible to the Lebanese people" . UNIFIL has informed the IDF of its findings and formally requested that the wall be moved . In a strong statement, UNIFIL declared that the "Israeli presence and construction in Lebanese territory are violations of Security Council resolution 1701 and of Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity" .
In response to the UN findings, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun instructed the country's foreign minister to file an urgent complaint with the UN Security Council . The official statement from the presidency frames the wall's construction as a violation of international law . Lebanese MP Marc Daou denounced the move as “an act of aggression against Lebanon, its sovereignty and its land,” stating that the complaint is necessary and signals that "Israeli aggression continues" with no serious intent to stabilize the situation .
The construction has reinforced the stance of Hezbollah, which condemned the move as an “Israeli escalation” and a “de facto annexation of Lebanese territory” . A source within the group stated that this action "confirms Israel’s ambitions and its intention to continue its occupation and avoid committing to any agreement" . This provides further legitimacy to Hezbollah's argument for maintaining its weapons as a essential means to preserve Lebanese rights and confront Israeli ambitions, especially amidst US-backed plans for its disarmament . The source argued, "We are making concessions, while Israel continues to expand and take steps that further undermine Lebanese sovereignty" .
This incident is not isolated. Despite a cessation of hostilities agreement that took effect in November 2024, Israel has maintained a military presence at five positions in Lebanese territory near the Blue Line . Furthermore, UNIFIL has reported more than 2,400 activities by Israeli forces north of the Blue Line since the ceasefire . In a separate and dangerous incident, Israeli forces recently fired heavy machine gun rounds at UNIFIL peacekeepers from a tank located near a position Israel has established in Lebanese territory, with rounds hitting about five meters from UN personnel .