History of Israel-Lebanon conflict

• A 10-day ceasefire announced by US President Donald Trump and agreed on by Lebanon and Israel came into effect on April 17. 

• The two neighbouring countries held their first direct diplomatic talks in decades on April 14 in Washington.

• Conflict between Israel and Lebanon-based Hezbollah militant group was reignited by the US-Israel attack on Iran that started on February 28. Hezbollah opened fire in support of Tehran on March 2, prompting an Israeli offensive in Lebanon.

• Since then, Israeli strikes in Lebanon have killed more than 2,000 people.

• Over one million people have been displaced amounting to approximately one in five of Lebanon’s population.

• Thousands of civilians — among them women, children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities — have been compelled to abandon their homes.

• If the Lebanon ceasefire clears the way for a broader peace deal with Iran, it would be a significant win for the Trump administration, which has struggled so far to reopen the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.

• United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the ceasefire, expressing hope that it would help advance efforts toward lasting peace in the region.

• The United Nations, through its political and peacekeeping missions, continues to urge the full implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701, which brought an end to the 2006 hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, toward a permanent ceasefire and long-term solution to the conflict, emphasizing that there is no military solution to this conflict.

History of Israel-Lebanon conflict

• Following an invasion by Israeli forces into Lebanon, the UN Security Council, in March 1978, established the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) mandating it to confirm the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon, restore international peace and security, and assist the Lebanese government to restore its effective authority in the area. 

• In June 1982, Israel invaded Lebanon for the second time and subsequently established a security zone inside the country, which remained until its withdrawal in 2000.

• In 1985, Israel partially withdrew its forces from Lebanon, but retained control of an area in southern Lebanon controlled by Israel Defence Forces (IDF) and Lebanese De Facto Forces (DFF).

• On April 17, 2000, the government of Israel notified the UN Secretary-General that it would withdraw its forces from Lebanon by July 2000. 

• In preparation of the withdrawal of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) from Lebanon, the UN identified the ‘Line of Withdrawal’, or so-called ‘Blue Line’, largely conforming to the internationally recognised boundaries of Lebanon. 

• The United Nations established this Line in June 2000 for the sole purpose of confirming the full withdrawal of the IDF from Lebanese territory. 

• The Line is described as the best approximation of the 1923 Boundary Line and the 1949 Armistice Demarcation Line. It does not in any way represent an international border and is without prejudice to any future border arrangements between Lebanon and Israel. The Line is 120 km long.

• Until July 2006, despite numerous violations of the Line of Withdrawal, as well as sea and air violations, and occasional breaches of the ceasefire, the situation in the area remained relatively calm. 

• On July 12, 2006, war broke out between Israel and Lebanon after Hezbollah had carried out an attack on an IDF patrol, kidnapping two IDF soldiers and killing three others. 

• On August 11, 2006, the Security Council adopted resolution 1701 (2006), which ended the war and in which the Council decided to enlarge UNIFIL (to a maximum of 15,000 troops) and enhance its mandate.

• UNIFIL headquarters is located in Naqoura. The area of operations extends from the Blue Line in the south to the Litani River in the north and is divided into two sectors, East and West. 

• The mandate for the operation is renewed annually by the 15-member UN Security Council.

• In August 2025, the UNSC extended the UN peacekeeping mission which patrols the so-called Blue Line of separation between Israel and Lebanon “for a final time” till December 31, 2026.