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Lebanon + 2 more

Report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of Security Council resolution 1701 (2006) (S/2015/147) [EN/AR]

Attachments

Reporting period from 6 November 2014 to 27 February 2015

I. Introduction

  1. The present report provides a comprehensive assessment of the implementation of Security Council resolution 1701 (2006) since my last report of 5 November 2014 (S/2014/784).

  2. A serious breach of the cessation of hostilities between Lebanon and Israel occurred on 28 January, when Hizbullah launched several anti-tank guided missiles from the area of operations of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) towards an Israeli military convoy south of the Blue Line in the vicinity of the Shab’a Farms area. Two Israeli soldiers were killed and several other soldiers and civilians injured in the attack. During subsequent fire by the Israel Defense Forces into Lebanon, a peacekeeper from UNIFIL was also killed, and the Security Council condemned his death in the strongest terms. Rockets were then fired from the UNIFIL area of operations and further shelling by the Israel Defense Forces ensued before the firing ceased. Hizbullah claimed responsibility for the attack, which it said had been in retaliation for an alleged Israeli airstrike on 18 January on the Golan in the Syrian Arab Republic, which killed six Hizbullah members and a high-ranking Iranian military officer. The immediate engagement with the parties by my Special Coordinator and the UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander, including through UNIFIL liaison and coordination arrangements, prevented further escalation and helped restore the cessation of hostilities. I addressed the developments directly with both Prime Minister Tammam Salam and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling for a return to calm and for all concerned to act responsibly. My Special Coordinator was also in contact with regional partners for their support in this regard. In spite of this serious violation, Israel and Lebanon reaffirmed their commitment to the implementation of resolution 1701 (2006) and to the stability of the Blue Line area