Israeli forces again target UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon

In the second incident in a row, the Israeli military opened fire on a watchtower in southern Lebanon belonging to the United Nations Interim Force (UNIFIL).

The UN mission said in a statement released on Friday that two peacekeepers were hurt in two explosions that occurred close to an observation tower.

UNIFIL reiterates that the security and safety of UN personnel and property must be assured, and that UN property’s security must always be respected, according to the statement.

“Any blatant violation of international humanitarian law is committed by any peacekeepers.”

The organisation also said “several T-walls at our UN position 1-31, near the Blue Line in Labbouneh, fell when an]Israeli military] caterpillar hit the perimeter and]Israeli] tanks moved in the proximity of the UN position.

A UNIFIL Quick Reaction Force was dispatched to assist and strengthen the position while our peacekeepers remained there.

The attacks occurred on watchtowers, the main UNIFIL base in Naqoura, and the base of the Sri Lankan battalion, according to the Lebanon’s ministry of foreign affairs.

Members of the Sri Lankan battalion were reportedly hurt by artillery shelling from an Israeli Merkava tank, but the official National News Agency in Lebanon did not provide the exact location.

Najib Mikati, the country’s interim prime minister, stated at a press conference in Beirut that Israel’s actions “denounced crime.” He added that he and American Secretary of State Antony Blinken had spoken about attempting to end the conflict in Lebanon.

It was “very clear that this incident is intolerable and cannot repeat,” said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia demanded on Friday that Israel refrain from engaging in any hostile behavior against them and that it be outraged by the UNIFIL peacekeepers’ being targeted.

Human Rights Watch demanded that the attacks be investigated by the UN and that it be a “war crime.”

The Middle East and North Africa director at the New York-based rights organization Lama Fakih said, “UN peacekeepers in south Lebanon have long played a crucial civilian protection and humanitarian role. Israeli forces’ targeting of UN peacekeepers is infringes the rules of war and dangerously interferes with UNIFIL’s work in providing civilian protection and aid.

China expressed” grave concern and strong condemnation “of Israel’s attacks on UN peace operations, as did India over the” deteriorating security situation along the Blue Line”.

The UN’s Ministry of External Affairs in India stated that all appropriate measures must be taken to protect the safety of UN peacekeepers and the sanctity of their duties.

Assault on Blue Helmets

UN peacekeepers reported on Friday that the Israeli military had fired at UNIFIL headquarters and positions repeatedly.

According to the mission, two Indonesian peacekeepers were hurt on Thursday and were still hospitalized.

The Israeli military knows about UNIFIL personnel’ positions, and they are clearly identifiable.

Israel acknowledged that its forces had opened fire on the area, claiming that Hezbollah fighters are operating close to UN posts.

The attack on Thursday prompted global condemnation.

In a break from Israel’s continued support for Israel throughout its yearlong conflict in Gaza and Lebanon, Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto criticized the incident as a potential war crime.

” This was not a mistake and not an accident, “Crosetto told a news conference”. It could be a war crime and be a grave violation of international humanitarian law.

Andrea Tenenti, a spokesman for UNIFIL, described the attack as a “very serious “development.

He explained that Israel had previously requested peacekeepers to relocate to “certain positions close to the border,” but that “we chose to stay because it’s crucial for the UN flag to fly in the] south of Lebanon.”

“At the moment, we are staying, we are trying to do whatever we can to monitor]and] to provide assistance”, Tenenti added.

Retno Marsudi, the country’s foreign minister, confirmed that the peacekeepers were being treated further.

Source: Aljazeera