The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) announced on Monday its peacekeeping operations were severely disrupted after the Israeli enemy army carried out an aerial activity involving the release of a a chemical substance near the Blue Line.
In a statement posted on UNIFIL’s X account, the mission said the Israeli army informed it on Sunday morning that aircraft would drop what it called a “non-toxic chemical substance” over areas close to the Blue Line, advising peacekeepers to remain under cover and stay away from the area. As a result, more than a dozen planned UNIFIL activities were canceled.
Yesterday morning, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) told UNIFIL that they would be carrying out an aerial activity dropping what they said was a non-toxic chemical substance over areas near the Blue Line.
— UNIFIL (@UNIFIL_) February 2, 2026
UNIFIL said peacekeepers were unable to conduct normal operations along approximately one-third of the Blue Line and were only able to resume their mission after more than nine hours.
During that time, UNIFIL supported the Lebanese Armed Forces in collecting samples of the substance for testing to determine its toxicity.
The mission said the Israeli activity was unacceptable and contrary to resolution 1701.
The Israeli army’s “deliberate and planned actions not only limited peacekeepers’ ability to undertake their mandated activities, but also potentially put their health and that of civilians at risk.”
The UNIFIL also expressed concerns “about the effects of this unknown chemical on local agricultural lands, and how this might impact the return of civilians to their homes and livelihoods in the long-term.”
The mission noted that this is not the first time that the Israeli army has dropped unknown chemical substances from airplanes over Lebanon.
Earlier on Sunday, Israeli aircraft dropped an unidentified substance over agricultural areas across several Lebanese border villages of Ayta Al-Shaab, Ramyeh, Dhaira and Alma Al-Shaab.
The Israeli army, continuing their ethnic cleansing campaign, is again committing ecocide in the southern villages. After countless attacks with white phosphorus, incendiary weapons, gasoline, and various types of ammunition, the Israeli army have today deployed this aircraft… pic.twitter.com/lS0fMTB4e1
— courtneybonneauimages (@cbonneauimages) February 1, 2026
Source: Al-Manar English Website