UNIFIL mission says it is in 'most difficult period' in Lebanon since 2006 war

Since the 2006 war, the UNIFIL mission has never witnessed a more tense situation in Lebanon, said a spokesperson for the peacekeeping mission.

Established in 1978 its more than 10,000 peacekeepers from 50 countries have been regularly patrolling the Blue Line, the UN-drawn border between Lebanon and Israel, while also engaging in efforts to de-escalate tensions between the two sides.

After Israel launched a new wave of attacks across Lebanon, hitting what it called Hezbollah targets, the country is now facing a new humanitarian crisis.

Over 600 people have been killed and more than 90,000 have been newly-displaced in the country, according to the International Organization for Migration.

Speaking to Euronews, a UNFIL spokesperson described the challenges the mission is facing.

"This is certainly the most difficult period for the mission and the country have faced since 2006 and perhaps even before," Andrea Tenenti said.

"The intensity of bombardments is unprecedented compared to the last 13 months. Since last October cross-border firing has never stopped. In the past four, five days the death toll has almost reached 2006 levels."

The current situation, Tenenti said, is disrupting the peacekeeping mission's activities.

"Our troops mainly remain in the 50 bases that we have close to the Blue Line. It's difficult to monitor the situation," he explained.

"We do so by using our radars, but the main thing is the mediation activities that are being carried out by the Head of mission which need the support of the international community."

Israel says it is preparing for a ground invasion and we asked Tenenti if there's concern about what could happen next.

"It's difficult to predict how things could unfold," he told Euronews.

"Israel said