The UN's peacekeeping forces will remain at the southern Lebanese border, despite Israel's request to evacuate certain areas ahead of the ground invasion against Iran-backed Hezbollah.
Jean-Pierre Lacroix, head of the peacekeeping operations, told AP on Thursday. He highlights, among other things, that the UN mission on site is "the only communication channel between the parties".
They (the forces) are also working together with our partners to do what they can to protect the civilian population, he says.
Lacroix emphasizes that Israel and Hezbollah are responsible for protecting the UN force, which consists of approximately 10,000 soldiers and a civilian staff, and adds that they are continuously "assessing the situation" for the personnel.
Since the Israeli ground offensive began on Tuesday, Lacroix has experienced some "complications", but these have been addressed "effectively" together with the parties.
