United Nations peacekeepers in Lebanon said on October 5 that they would not leave their positions in the south, despite saying that Israel had asked them to "relocate".
"On September 30, the Israeli army has notified peacekeeping forces of its intention to undertake a limited ground incursion into Lebanon. They have asked us to move from several positions," the UN Interim Force in Lebanon said.
"Peacekeepers continue to be in all positions and the UN flag continues to fly. We regularly change our position and our actions and have plans ready, which can be implemented if necessary," the announcement said.
Israel has intensified its campaign against Hezbollah - the militant group and political party that controls most of southern Lebanon - since September 23, killing more than 1.110 people and forcing hundreds of thousands from their homes.
Earlier this week, Israel announced that it had launched a limited ground offensive in southern Lebanon against Hezbollah.
Hezbollah has been declared a terrorist organization by the United States, while the European Union has blacklisted its armed wing, but not its political party.
"We continue to call on Lebanon and Israel to recommit to Security Council resolution 1701 - with deeds, not just words - as the only solution to restore stability to the region," the UN force said.
UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah, states that only the Lebanese army and UN peacekeepers should be deployed in southern Lebanon.
