The Blue Line is a UN-demarcated line of withdrawal between Lebanon and Israel. The United Nations certified Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon in 2000.

UNIFIL uses coordinates to delineate the Blue Line as a de facto Ceasefire line, not a recognised international border. It separates Lebanon from Israel.

UN Security Council Resolution 1701, passed after the 2006 Lebanon War, reinforced its framework. On 6 March 2026, UN peacekeepers confirmed ground forces north of it. It serves as the de facto Ceasefire boundary between the two countries.

Key Issues

Lebanon front

The Blue Line marks the incursion

On 6 March, UN peacekeepers confirmed Israeli ground forces in Kfar Kila, Houla, Kfar Shouba, Yaroun and Khiam, north of the Blue Line. The confirmation marked the first Israeli ground presence north of the line since 2006.

On 20 August, ACLED recorded a sharp increase in attacks involving Israel and Hezbollah around the Ali al-Taher Ridge in southern Lebanon. The Blue Line is the reference boundary for assessing any spread of that fighting across the Lebanon-Israel frontier. The record did not itself establish a new crossing.

Common Questions

What is the Blue Line?

The Blue Line is a UN-demarcated boundary established in 2000 to certify Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon after its 22-year occupation. It serves as the de facto Ceasefire line between Lebanon and Israel but is not a recognised international border. UN Resolution 1701 (2006) reinforced it by barring Israeli forces and Hezbollah from operating across it.Source: UNIFIL

Has Israel crossed the Blue Line in 2026?

Yes. In March 2026, UNIFIL confirmed IDF ground forces operating in Kfar Kila, Houla, Kfar Shouba, Yaroun, and Khiam, all north of the Blue Line. This was the first Israeli ground presence north of the line since the 2006 Lebanon War.Source: UNIFIL

What is UN Resolution 1701 and the Blue Line?

Resolution 1701, passed in August 2006 to end the Second Lebanon War, required Israeli forces to withdraw south of the Blue Line and barred Hezbollah from deploying north of the Litani River. It expanded UNIFIL's peacekeeping mandate to monitor compliance along the line.Source: UN Security Council

Were UNIFIL peacekeepers attacked near the Blue Line?

Two Ghanaian UNIFIL peacekeepers were critically wounded and a third suffered psychological trauma at their base in Qawzah, southern Lebanon, during the March 2026 Israeli ground operation. UNIFIL confirmed they were inside the base when struck but did not formally attribute the attack.Source: UNIFIL

How does the Blue Line differ from the Lebanese-Israeli border?

The Blue Line is not an internationally recognised border; it marks Israel's 2000 withdrawal line as certified by the UN. Lebanon and Israel have never signed a peace treaty, so the Blue Line functions as the operational Ceasefire boundary. Several sections remain disputed between the two countries.Source: UNIFIL

Source Material

What is the Blue Line between Israel and Lebanon?Lebanon profile — Timeline The Blue Line — UNIFIL What is the Blue Line separating Israel and Lebanon?Guide: Why Israel and Lebanon are enemies UNIFIL Mandate Blue Line (Lebanon)