UN peacekeepers on the Israeli-Lebanese border have never been more crucial, the force’s global chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix has said, as fears soared of an escalation in the Middle East.

The role of the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon, Unifil, was today “more important than ever”, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix told AFP.

“It’s the only liaison channel between the Israeli side and the Lebanese side in all its components, such as Hezbollah,” he said.

“It’s fundamental because it allows us to clarify certain things and avoid misunderstandings… miscalculations, uncontrolled and unwanted escalations,” he said.

Lacroix said the peacekeepers were staying in place for now, and only if it became impossible for them to carry out their mission or if there were “very, very serious threats” to their security would their presence be reconsidered.

Unifil has around 10,000 troops based in south Lebanon. In the past, Unifil patrols have occasionally faced harassment, and in December 2022 an Irish soldier with the force was killed and three colleagues wounded when their convoy came under fire in south Lebanon.