Israel, Lebanon and UN peacekeepers - what’s going on?

What in the World

Tensions between Israel and the United Nations over its peacekeeping operations in southern Lebanon have escalated in recent weeks. UN peacekeepers say Israeli forces fired at one of their positions and that tanks forced entry into another of its compounds, injuring 15 peacekeepers. Israel says that Unifil (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) has failed to prevent Hezbollah establishing itself in southern Lebanon, which is one of its main responsibilities, and has ordered Unifil to leave. Hezbollah is designated as a terrorist organisation by the US, European Union, Israel and Gulf Arab states.

BBC Middle East correspondents Hugo Bachega and Wyre Davis, in Beirut and Jerusalem respectively, explain what exactly has been happening in Lebanon and the history of the row between Israel and the United Nations.

We also hear from Major Shubham Thuwal, a UN peacekeeper from India who is stationed in Lebanon, to learn about what a peacekeeper actually does.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: [phone] Email: [e-mail] Presenter: William Lee Adams Producers: Julia Ross-Roy, Maria Clara Montoya and Adam Chowdhury Editor: Verity Wilde