The recently simmering conflict between Israel and the Hezbollah militias in Lebanon has suddenly flared up: after thousands of beeper explosions and heavy airstrikes by Israel in southern Lebanon, Hezbollah is also carrying out retaliatory attacks, most recently on Tel Aviv. Almost 170 soldiers of the Federal Army are currently deployed in southern Lebanon as part of the UN mission UNIFIL. Your commander Peter Ertl describes the tense situation in the camp in the “Krone” interview.
There are soldiers from all over Austria currently serving in Camp Naqoura in the southwest of Lebanon, right by the sea: comrades of all ages, professional and militia soldiers, including seven women. Since 2011, Austria has been participating in the United Nations UNIFIL mission with a contingent of around 170 soldiers. Its commander has been Lieutenant Colonel Peter Ertl for over a year.
Mr. Ertl, how do you and your comrades feel in light of the escalating conflict?
Peter Ertl: The mood within the contingent is tense, but good. The initial situation has changed drastically for almost a year. Internally, however, the cohesion of the troops has grown; we are very aware of the current security situation and carry out our orders.
How have developments in the region been felt since the Hamas attack on the camp on October 7?
The UN’s ‘walk-out’ policy is severely restricted. Recreational trips, visits to cultural sites and the like are prohibited. Life is mainly conducted in the camps. The camp may only be left to carry out the order under the strictest security measures.
Since the spectacular explosions of beepers in Lebanon, there has been chaos and widespread panic. Can you confirm that? How would you describe the impact?
Yes, the explosion of communication media has indeed caused panic and uncertainty, especially among the civilian population. Since the beginning of October last year, both sides in the conflict have been trying to influence the population in Israel and Lebanon with all kinds of actions. This leads to uncertainty and fear.
How realistic is an Israeli ground offensive? What would that mean for your mission?
The mutual attacks have intensified in recent months. Both parties in the conflict are trying to inflict great damage on the other. From a contemporary perspective, a large-scale ground offensive is not immediately expected, but cannot be ruled out either. For tactical reasons, I cannot describe the possible effects on the mission here, but UNIFIL has a corresponding strategy for each scenario.
What do you think will happen next in the region?
In my personal opinion, the conflict between the “Axis of Resistance” and Israel will continue. The means used or the course of the struggle by all parties involved cannot be predicted or estimated. We assume the worst-case scenario, although we hope for a diplomatic solution.
The UNIFIL mission was launched in 1978 to ensure peace and security in the region. Will you give this goal another chance?
The UN is making an incredibly important contribution to Lebanon. Without the 10,000 troops in southern Lebanon, the conflict would have escalated into a war with thousands of civilian casualties on both sides.
What can be observed on the ground that is neglected in Western reporting?
The tireless efforts of all UNIFIL soldiers.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
