“Under Nahla’s leadership,” the State Department said, “GWB has functioned as a cover for Hizballah’s terrorist activities. 

“GWB sites have been used to conduct Hizballah’s weapons training, to provide support for Hizballah’s activities along the Blue Line in southern Lebanon, and to impede the freedom of movement of the UN Security Council-mandated United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil).”

The evidence to corroborate this designation was socialised often by the IDF in Israeli media, who, from about 2018, became increasingly irate with Unifil, accusing the mission of doing little or nothing to prevent these sites from being developed.

As a UN observer who visited a number of these sites in 2018, I can tell you that Unifil, did, in fact, try to ascertain who GWB were, and what they were doing.

Like all thing’s peacekeeping, the fact-finding was an imperfect process, hampered by restrictions inherent in the mandate, the sensitivities of the local population, and the NGO being very passionate about the indigenous weeping fig.

To that end, I believe the State Department assessment to be at least partially correct. 

The weapons training, I’m not so sure about. The support of Hezbollah activities and the inhibiting of Unifil? Most probably, yes. Growing nice trees? Definitely.

As ruses go, it was a rather ingenious one. Green Without Borders was registered as an environmental NGO in 2013. 

It took some years before it started acquiring land and cultivating sites in south Lebanon, and specifically in Unifil’s area of operations, but when it did, they all followed a similar pattern; immaculate curated spaces, planted with new shrubs and saplings. 

Freshly cut driveways through lightly forested areas leading to a newly developed compound, which would typically include a water tower, a few prefabricated offices, and some sort of greenhouse.

Invariably we were met by friendly, welcoming staff, dressed like, well, landscapers, who would brief us on what trees they were planting, and why. 

We had no reason to suspect there was anything untoward going on, you could only take them at their word. Polite. Well informed. Environmentally conscience. 

As an unarmed observer with OGL (observer group Lebanon), under the command of Unifil, we had no right to force entry and search these compounds, and as experienced officers, it would have been foolish to do so.

Astute and innovative Hezbollah operating in South Lebanon

The GWB example is indicative of how astute and innovative Hezbollah are in operating in South Lebanon, despite UN Security Council resolution 1701, which calls for a full cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, the withdrawal of Hezbollah and other forces from Lebanon south of the Litani, the disarmament of Hezbollah and other armed groups, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon, with no armed forces other than Unifil and Lebanese military operating south of the Litani River.

Much of the commentary these last few weeks would have you believe our peacekeepers commonly observe Hezbollah commandos wandering the streets of Tyre and Nabatiyeh, RPGs at the ready.

The reality is the opposite. Hezbollah are woven into the fabric of society in the south and are masters at keeping their community development initiatives separate from their covert military activities.

The mandate peacekeepers aim to fulfil makes them an inconvenience to the Party of God, but one that is — for the most part — tolerated. 

I’ve never known Unifil to knowingly turn a blind eye to any Hezbollah activity. That is not to say they do not routinely fail. 

With a disparate spread of troop contributing countries and challenging terrain to cover, gaps in observing and reporting are a reality.

Being a successful peacekeeper relies as much on discretion as it does what the good book says. 

Unifil are guests in Lebanon, and, regardless of security council resolutions, they are operating on Hezbollah’s turf. 

Turf that was decimated in the 2006 war by Israel, but never lost. Turf that was re-laid over a freshly constructed underworld specifically designed for the next war, the war unfolding now.

With force protection a priority, it will be instructive to watch how Unifil changes its posture and forcibly defends itself in the coming weeks.

With UN posts coming under daily attacks from invading Israeli military forces, and Hezbollah announcing its intention to escalate, it’s only a matter of time before the patience of peacekeepers gives way to aggression.

• Colin Sheridan served with the Defence Forces from 1997 to 2023, including three years in Lebanon