Global outrage as Israeli attacks injure UN peacekeepers in Lebanon
The United Nations peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon confirmed on Friday that its headquarters in Naqoura was hit by explosions for the second time in 48 hours, a day after Israeli forces struck the same position.
Two peacekeepers from the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) were injured after two explosions occurred close to an observation tower, the UN mission said in a statement on Friday.
“This is a serious development, and UNIFIL reiterates that the safety and security of UN personnel and property must be guaranteed and that the inviolability of UN premises must be respected at all times,” it added.
“Any deliberate attack on peacekeepers is a grave violation of international humanitarian law.”
Lebanon’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs earlier said the attacks were on watchtowers and the main UNIFIL base in Naqoura and on the Sri Lankan battalion’s base.
Lebanon’s official National News Agency reported that artillery shelling from an Israeli Merkava tank wounded members of the Sri Lankan battalion.
Speaking at a news conference in Beirut, Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said Israel’s actions were a “denounced crime”. He added that he had discussed efforts to reach a cease-fire in Lebanon with United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
The incident sparked condemnation from European members of the mission, the UN as well as China and Russia.
Human Rights Watch on Friday called for a UN inquiry “on Israeli attacks on peacekeepers” in Lebanon.
“Any targeting of UN peacekeepers by Israeli forces violates the laws of war and dangerously interferes with UNIFIL’s civilian protection and aid work,” HRW’s Lama Fakih said.
UNIFIL, which has about 10,000 peacekeepers stationed in south Lebanon, has called for a cease-fire since an escalation between Israel and Lebanese militant group Hezbollah on September 23, after a year of cross-border fire.