UNIFIL Funds Civilian Project In Southern Lebanese Town Together With Hizbullah, Amal Movement

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On January 20, 2024, Lebanese Hizbullah's Al-Ahed website reported that the municipality of Maaroub, in the Tyre district, inaugurated a solar power system for the town's artesian well, which was funded by the leadership of Hizbullah; the Amal Movement; French, Finnish, and Malaysian United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) forces, and philanthropists.[1]

Speaking at an event celebrating the inauguration at the official Maaroub school, Hasan 'Izz Al-Din, a member of the Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc – Hizbullah's party in the Lebanese parliament – said that the international system and the United Nations were established to help people and must therefore create a society based on security and peace, not on "injustice, aggression, authoritarianism, tyranny, and colonialism." Noting that his party's slogan is "We Will Protect and Build," 'Izz Al-Din explained: "We will protect this homeland from any Zionist aggression and protect its sovereignty and independence."

Also in attendance was Ali Khreis, a member of the Development and Liberation Bloc, the Amal movement's party, who said that Amal and Hizbullah make no distinctions between Lebanese citizens, adding: "We do not want war, but if the enemy wants to attack us, we cannot remain passive."

The mayor of Maaroub, Siraj Hashem, thanked all those involved in the project, which will provide large quantities of water to the town, even during frequent power outages.

Colonels Matthieu Leroy and Markku Puustinen, commanders of the French and Finnish forces in UNIFIL, also spoke at the event. Leroy said: "Our work in the UNIFIL forces in southern Lebanon allows us to support projects which the local authorities intend to implement," while Puustinen noted that 3,000 members of 700 families will benefit from the project.

As noted by Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA), the event was also attended by Colonel Burhan bin Sagoni, the commander of the Malaysian contingent to UNIFIL, and Albagir Adam, head of the UNIFIL Civil Affairs bureau.[2]

The Amal Movement has reportedly deployed hundreds of forces along the Israeli border since the outbreak of the ongoing Israel-Hamas war and has eulogized operatives killed in Israeli strikes after carrying out attacks.[3]