In a recent escalation in southern Lebanon, two peacekeepers from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) sustained minor injuries following an Israeli artillery strike on one of their positions.
According to a UN source, Israeli forces targeted three UNIFIL sites, causing damage including a direct hit on the observation tower at UNIFIL’s main base in Ras al-Naqoura.
The spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, Stéphane Dujarric, expressed “deep concern” over the Israeli military’s recent activities near the UNIFIL post in Lebanon.
Dujarric emphasized that “it is unacceptable to compromise the safety of UN peacekeepers who are carrying out a Security Council mandate.”
This incident marks a significant tension point in the region, raising concerns about the safety of international peacekeeping forces operating under UN mandates.
According to a report by The New York Times, citing representatives from UNIFIL and Israel, the Israeli military is endangering UN peacekeepers by positioning its forces adjacent to their sites during ground operations in southern Lebanon.
UNIFIL spokesperson Nick Bernback told the newspaper, “This is a very serious development, and it is unacceptable to compromise the safety of UN peacekeepers while they are carrying out their Security Council-mandated duties.”
The UN mission revealed that Israel had requested the peacekeepers to redeploy when the operation commenced, a request that was denied.
The official also alleged that Hezbollah militants were launching rockets from areas close to the peacekeeping base, further complicating the situation.
Lebanon is facing a “catastrophic” humanitarian crisis as the number of internally displaced people has reached 600,000, according to United Nations officials. The crisis has escalated amid ongoing Israeli military operations against Hezbollah, as reported by Agence France-Presse (AFP).
In a press briefing, UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Janine Hennis-Plasschaert, stated, “Lebanon is experiencing conflict and a humanitarian crisis of catastrophic proportions,” expressing hope that Israel would now support widespread calls for de-escalation.
However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Lebanon of “destruction and suffering similar to what is happening in Gaza” if it does not “free itself from Hezbollah.”
