Blue Helmets of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) patrol southern Lebanon. (Undated photo published on the UNIFIL website)
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) handed over on Thursday to the Lebanese Army the last two of five demined fields in the past six months.
The ceremony took place in Blida (Marjayoun), the U.N. force reported on its website Friday. These two fields, covering a total area of 5,188 square meters, contained 946 mines, which were destroyed on site, UNIFIL said.
In total, peacekeepers have cleared and handed over five minefields — covering an area of 12,030 square meters — to the Lebanese Mine Action Center (LMAC) of the army.
During these operations, 2,173 mines have also been unearthed and destroyed. Previous handovers included one demined field also in Blida (Marjayoun) and two in Maroun al-Ras (Bint Jbeil), according to UNIFIL.
“Despite the complexity of this environment, the results are clear and save lives. You have truly contributed to improving the safety of this region and the daily life of the local population,” said Paul Sanzey, representing the UNIFIL head of mission and commander, to the Cambodian deminers of the force who participated in clearing the Blida fields on Thursday evening. “This work will tangibly allow future generations of Lebanese to live in a safer environment,” he added.
At the government’s request, peacekeepers resumed demining operations in South Lebanon in summer 2025, “nearly two years after their suspension due to exchanges of fire along the Blue Line,” the U.N. force specified.
These exchanges began after Hezbollah opened a “support front” for Gaza, in the wake of Hamas's operation of Oct. 7, 2023. The clashes developed into all-out war between Hezbollah and Israel in the fall of 2024, after an Israeli ground offensive in the border region.
This officially ended with a cease-fire that came into effect at the end of November 2024. Since then, the Israeli army has withdrawn from southern Lebanon, except for six positions where it remains illegally stationed.
With the exception of these points, the Lebanese Army has spread throughout southern Lebanon, and Hezbollah has withdrawn in accordance with the cease-fire agreement.
Defense Minister Michel Menassa held talks Friday with U.S. military attache in Beirut, Jason Belknap, who stressed “the importance of continuing support for the army in various areas.”
The two officials also discussed the second phase of the Hezbollah disarmament plan, which includes the area between the Litani and Awali rivers, as well as “daily Israeli violations” of the cease-fire, according to the state-run National News Agency (NNA).
The international conference in support of the Lebanese Army, scheduled for March 5 in Paris, was also discussed.
