As the Israel – Lebanon Border witnesses an increasing level of violence, the risk to peacekeepers trying to maintain peace under a UN Flag keeps increasing. News has already poured in about injuries to two Indonesian peacekeepers when Israeli tank fire hit an observation tower near Kafer Kela, South Lebanon, that the two Indonesians were manning.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has already made a statement, “We are concerned at the deteriorating security situation along the Blue Line. We continue to monitor the situation closely.”
India’s role in UN peacekeeping operations is not just significant, it’s impressive. With over 49 peacekeeping operations and a contribution of over 2,00,000 personnel, India has made a substantial impact. The deployment of a fair number of police personnel further underscores India’s commitment to global peace.
Peacekeepers have faced violence repeatedly in their deployments. Indian contingents have also faced violent responses from separatist groups operating in their deployment areas. One mission that bore a lot of casualties was the UNOSOM II in Mogadishu.
Pakistani peacekeepers faced multiple attacks on 5th June 1993 in Mogadishu, Somalia. They were part of UNOSOM II, a rather heavy UN deployment of 22,000 troops and eight thousand logistics and civilian staff from 27 countries. The violence erupted when Pakistani troops launched an inspection of Radio Mogadishu with US participation. Violence broke out in different parts of Mogadishu. The Pakistanis lost 25 personnel. Two Americans were also injured. The Somali National Alliance, headed by Major General Mohamed Farrah Aidid, which controlled the radio station, is believed to have been behind the attacks. 12 Indian troops were also killed in Somalia during their tenures with UNOSOM II.
Though encountering violence is nothing new for UN missions, rarely has it been attributed to state forces. It’s been primarily indulged in by separatist militias, locals instigated by one group or the other, and those involved in a leadership struggle. In the case of Lebanon, the injuries to the Indonesian troops are being attributed to Israeli forces. Israeli forces have accepted the fact of their presence in the area.
Meanwhile, Netanyahu has urged the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to withdraw UN peacekeeping forces from southern Lebanon. Netanyahu has cited the danger to both ‘UNIFIL soldiers and Israeli troops’.
No doubt, the presence of UN peacekeepers in strength restricts the Israelis in their manoeuvres in the area. However, a deliberate attempt to push them out using weapons cannot be tolerated. This is all the more true when it’s a state actor, not a non-state actor.
Brig SK Chatterji (Retd)
