Implementation of Security Council resolution 1701 (2006) during the period from 20 February to 18 June 2021 - Report of the Secretary-General (S/2021/650)
Format
I. Introduction
1. The present report provides a comprehensive assessment of the implementation of Security Council resolution 1701 (2006) since my previous report, dated 9 March 2021 (S/2021/240), including on the provisions of resolution 2539 (2020).
Outstanding obligations remain for both parties under resolution 1701 (2006). There was no progress towards a permanent ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel.
A. Situation in the area of operations of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon
2. The situation in the area of operations of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), in particular along the Blue Line, remained tense, exacerbated by developments in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory in May. During this period, rockets were fired from southern Lebanon towards Israel on three oc casions, twice impacting in Israel and prompting response fire on two occasions. On 13 May, UNIFIL personnel stationed near Qulaylah and at UNIFIL headquarters in Naqurah (both Sector West) heard four loud sounds consistent with the firing of rockets and observed two flashes in the sky. Subsequently, the Israel Defense Forces confirmed to UNIFIL that several rockets fired from Lebanon had landed in Israeli waters. UNIFIL visited the suspected launch site north of the Blue Line on 19 May. The Lebanese Armed Forces showed UNIFIL the traces of four rockets fired in a southwesterly direction towards Israel and informed UNIFIL that they had found one unlaunched rocket, although it and the remnants of the used launch pads had been removed by the Lebanese Armed Forces and could not be inspected by UNIFIL.