2024-09-25 05:16:32
Tel Aviv: Tensions have been rising in West Asia for quite some time now. The recent pager blast in Lebanon has brought Hezbollah and Israel to the brink of war. Amidst this tension, the Indian Army is playing an important role in maintaining peace. The Indian Army continues to maintain its strong presence on the troubled Israel-Lebanon border under the United Nations peacekeeping mission. Currently, 600 Indian soldiers are deployed on the Blue Line, which was the border established in 2000 after Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanon. This force is part of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which is dedicated to maintaining peace and stability in the war zone.
According to a Financial Express report, Hezbollah and Israel have recently exchanged rocket and drone attacks on each other’s positions. Amidst attacks and threats from both sides, the Indian Army’s role is not to intervene but to maintain peace and security under the instructions of the United Nations. The nearly 120-km-long Blue Line acts as a buffer zone between Israel and Lebanon, where only UN forces, including the Indian Army, are deployed.
Soldiers work under UN rules
The primary objective of the Indian Army under UNIFIL is to maintain peace and ensure that there is no escalation of conflict or violence in the region. Indian troops are also tasked with protecting other UN missions in the region and preventing any threat to peacekeeping operations. The Indian Army’s role becomes more important because it is not directly involved in any military operations between Israel and Hezbollah. Instead, they try to maintain stability on the volatile border by following the orders of the United Nations.
The peacekeeping forces on the Blue Line are divided into two main sectors. These are- East and West Sectors. Each sector has brigade level strength, comprising 3 to 4 battalions and over 600 soldiers per battalion. The Indian Army battalions are a vital part of this structure, contributing significantly to the ongoing peace efforts under UNIFIL. The presence of the Indian Army in the region also shows its long-term commitment to global peace and stability.