Israel has urged the United Nations peacekeeping force (UNIFIL) to relocate its positions in southern Lebanon amid escalating tensions with Hezbollah. Israeli UN Ambassador Danny Danon recommended that UNIFIL move at least five kilometers north to avoid danger as clashes intensify along the volatile Blue Line, following incidents where Israeli forces fired on UN positions, injuring two peacekeepers.

Danon emphasized that while Israel does not seek to remain in Lebanon, it will take the necessary actions to push Hezbollah away from its northern border. He stated that the goal is to ensure the safety of Israeli citizens, allowing 70,000 residents of northern Israel to return to their homes, which have been vacated due to the ongoing conflict with Hezbollah.

In response, a spokesperson for UNIFIL confirmed to Israel's Walla news that the peacekeeping force has rejected Israel's request to evacuate its posts along the Israeli-Lebanese border. The spokesperson reiterated UNIFIL’s commitment to its mandate and called on both Israel and Hezbollah to respect UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which requires Israel to avoid crossing the Blue Line and mandates Hezbollah’s disarmament and withdrawal north of the Litani River, approximately 29 kilometers from the border.