Israeli forces have once again targeted the headquarters of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). On Friday, two peacekeepers were wounded when explosions rocked UNIFIL’s Naqoura base, marking the second attack in 48 hours.
UNIFIL confirmed that explosions near an observation tower injured two of its Sri Lankan peacekeepers. One was transported to a hospital in Tyre, while the other was treated at the scene. The Israeli military has acknowledged the incident, stating that the injuries were “inadvertent” and occurred during ongoing combat operations against Hezbollah militants. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) expressed concern over the attacks and announced a thorough review to investigate the circumstances. Israel maintains that it had advised UN peacekeepers to move to protected areas before the attack.
Lebanon’s National News Agency reports that several Sri Lankan peacekeepers were injured in another Israeli attack targeting the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) headquarters in southern Lebanon.
According to the report, an Israeli Merkava tank targeted one of UNIFIL’s… pic.twitter.com/uk1zWWZC0f
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) October 11, 2024
Lebanon’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticized the attacks, noting that the strikes targeted not only UNIFIL’s headquarters in Naqoura but also watchtowers and bases, including the Sri Lankan battalion’s base. These incidents, according to the ministry, represent a violation of international law and the inviolability of UN premises. UNIFIL echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that any deliberate attack on peacekeepers is a grave breach of international humanitarian law. The UN mission reiterated the need for full respect of the safety and security of its personnel, who operate in southern Lebanon under the mandate of UN Security Council Resolution 1701.
Fighting between Israeli forces and Hezbollah has escalated over the past week. The United Nations has voiced increasing concern over the risks facing its peacekeeping mission in the area. UNIFIL’s spokesperson, Andrea Tenenti, described the recent attacks as some of the most severe incidents involving peacekeepers in the past year, as their monitoring and operational capabilities have been significantly compromised.
The United Nations has emphasized that, despite these attacks, its peacekeepers are committed to maintaining their positions along the Israel-Lebanon border.
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