Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called on the international community to halt arms sales to Israel, condemning the ongoing Israeli attacks on the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
His remarks came in response to recent incidents in southern Lebanon, where Israeli forces have reportedly targeted UN monitoring positions.
According to a United Nations source, Israeli troops fired on a UNIFIL observation post today, wounding two individuals.
This marks the third consecutive day that UNIFIL has reported gunfire from Israel targeting its positions, amid Israel’s military campaign against the Hezbollah organization.
The Spanish Ministry of Defense confirmed that no Spanish soldiers involved in the peacekeeping mission were injured in the incidents.
Spain currently has 650 troops deployed as part of UNIFIL, which is led by a Spanish general.
Sánchez’s comments came after a meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican, where he criticized the recent actions of the Israeli military, stating, “At this moment, I must condemn and denounce the attacks carried out by the Israeli armed forces on the United Nations mission in Lebanon.”
Spain had already suspended arms sales to Israel in October 2023 in response to escalating tensions in the Middle East.
Sánchez urged other nations to adopt similar measures, stressing the importance of curbing arms exports to Israel to prevent further escalation in the region.
“In light of the current situation in the Middle East, I believe it is urgent for the international community to stop exporting weapons to the Israeli government,” he added.
The call for an arms embargo comes amid heightened concerns over the growing conflict, with escalating violence and casualties affecting both Lebanon and Israel.
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.
