[News Terms] The 'Blue Line' Crossed by the Israeli Military

Unofficial Land Boundary Set by the UN
Blue Barrels Installed Since 2007
Korea Deploys Dongmyeong Unit to UN Command Operation Area

The Israeli military crossed the ‘Blue Line’ and invaded Lebanon. On the 1st (local time), the Israeli military announced that it had launched a limited, localized, and targeted ground attack in southern Lebanon based on precise information about Hezbollah terrorist targets. This is the first Israeli ground invasion of Lebanon in 18 years since 2006.

Blue Barrels installed on the Blue Line, the border between Lebanon and Israel [Photo by AlHadath YouTube]

The ‘Blue Line’ is a temporary boundary line established by the United Nations (UN) that separates Israel and Lebanon. In other words, it is a provisional ‘Withdrawal Line’ announced by the UN in 2000 to verify whether the Israeli military had completely withdrawn from southern Lebanon, a region it had occupied for 22 years since its invasion in 1978.

Israel and Lebanon are very sensitive about border issues. The two countries do not have diplomatic relations, and Lebanon does not officially recognize Israel as an independent state. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), stationed along the Blue Line, emphasizes the unofficial nature of this line. It states that the Blue Line is not a border in any form and does not affect future border agreements between Israel and Lebanon. However, in practice, its existence and authority are given significant importance.

Since the Israeli military withdrew behind this line in 2000, the Blue Line has effectively served as a border, but strictly speaking, the expression ‘the Israeli military crossed Lebanon’s border’ is not accurate. However, there is a maritime border. In 2022, under U.S. mediation, the two countries officially agreed on a maritime boundary demarcation, ending the ongoing maritime border dispute.

Operational area of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and the Blue Line. South of the Blue Line is Israel. [Photo by UNIFIL]

Southern Lebanon is the stronghold of Hezbollah, an Islamic Shia armed faction. Since Hezbollah’s official founding in 1985, tensions between Hezbollah and Israel have persisted in this region.

The conflict in southern Lebanon began in 1948 when Israel declared itself an independent state. At that time, many Palestinians who were displaced from Israeli territory settled in southern Lebanon. As the war between Israel and surrounding Arab countries expanded, armed groups such as the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) were formed. Israel occupied southern Lebanon to eliminate these groups. In response, Shia Islamic militias emerged in Lebanon and, with Iran’s support, grew into Hezbollah.

In protest against the actions of the Israeli military, the Lebanese government submitted a complaint to the UN Security Council. In 1978, the UN Security Council adopted Resolutions 425 and 426 to urge the withdrawal of Israeli forces and the restoration of Lebanese government authority over the occupied areas. Additionally, the ‘United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)’ was established and deployed that same year.

After continuing additional military operations and occupation of southern Lebanon, the Israeli military notified the UN of its withdrawal in 2000, and a 120 km-long Blue Line was established in the area. However, violations of Security Council resolutions by crossing the Blue Line continued, and Israel invaded Lebanon again in 2006.

UNIFIL and Lebanese soldiers inspecting the Blue Barrel [Photo by UNIFIL]

Following UN Security Council Resolution 1701 in 2007, UNIFIL was reinforced from 2,000 to a maximum of 15,000 troops. South Korea established the Dongmyeong Unit and deployed it to Lebanon at this time. In the tripartite talks held that year, it was agreed that UNIFIL would install physical markers called ‘Blue Barrels’ to clearly indicate the exact route of the Blue Line.

The Blue Barrels are blue-painted drums with round shapes attached to both ends of a pole and erected upright. Their height far exceeds that of an adult male. As of March 2023, 272 Blue Barrels have been installed. UNIFIL estimates that more than 541 Blue Barrels are needed to make the Blue Line clearly visible.