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Strategy Page, February 28, 2007

Everyone hates the UN in Lebanon

The 10,000 UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon are being criticized by both the Israelis and Hezbollah, so they must be doing something right.

The Israelis are upset because the peacekeepers have not, as per the ceasefire agreement, disarmed Hezbollah forces in southern Lebanon.

Hezbollah is upset because the peacekeepers have not stopped Israeli reconnaissance aircraft from flying over southern Lebanon, and have stopped Hezbollah from building or repairing bunkers and rocker storage and launching facilities. The peacekeepers have also restricted the movement of Hezbollah fighters, and the movement of munitions (especially rockets.)

Hezbollah has by their own admission (and confirmed by the Israelis) replaced the 4,000 rockets they fired into Israel last Summer, and then some. But the peacekeepers won't let Hezbollah bring those rockets south and install them in bunkers, in preparation for another attack. Some Hezbollah weapons caches have been seized, but most have already been moved north. The Lebanese are also unhappy that the peacekeepers won't fire at Israeli troops who are firing at Hezbollah fighters operating close to the border. Hezbollah also complains that some of the European peacekeepers are Jewish, and thus Israeli agents.

The peacekeepers are not looking for a fight with Hezbollah, but do patrol the area regularly, and will confront any open Hezbollah activity they encounter.

Since the peacekeepers, especially the French, are more heavily armed, and intimidating, the Hezbollah guys have, so far, backed down. Apparently the French government has let it be known that, if fired on, the French troops will respond "vigorously."

There are rumors that Hezbollah is planning attacks on the peacekeepers, in an attempt to intimidate them. Thus far, the only violence has been pro-Hezbollah Lebanese Shia children throwing rocks are UN patrols. Lebanese Christians and Shia, however, are happy to see the peacekeepers.

The peacekeepers don't patrol much at night, and Hezbollah personnel tend to be very active at night. Israel believes that Hezbollah is moving in weapons at night and hiding them, but it has not yet turned over any proof to the UN peacekeepers.