Two peacekeepers injured in new attack, “accidentally” according to the Israeli army

A new Israeli shell fired Friday targeted the main entrance to the headquarters of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in Naqoura, while an Israeli Merkava tank hit a surveillance tower of the Blue Helmets on a road linking Tire to Naqoura, the Lebanese Foreign Ministry reported.

These new shots, the day after strikes on three UNIFIL positions, injured two peacekeepers from the Sri Lankan battalion, according to the same sources. This information was confirmed by UNIFIL later in the day. It actually underlined in a press release that its headquarters in Naqoura “was hit by explosions for the second time in 48 hours”. “Two peacekeepers were injured after two explosions occurred near an observation tower,” the text continues. UNIFIL added that one of the injured was taken to Tire hospital, while the second is being treated in Naqoura.

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According to the UN force, “several T-walls at our position 1-31, near the Blue Line in Labbouné, fell when an Israeli army tracked vehicle hit the perimeter and tanks moved nearby of the position of the United Nations. “Our peacekeepers remained on site and a UNIFIL rapid reaction force was sent to assist and reinforce the position,” the statement continued. Incidents with the Israeli army pose a “very great risk” for peacekeepers, the text adds.

‘Comprehensive examination’ in Israel

For its part, the Israeli army “was informed that two UN peacekeepers were accidentally injured during fighting in [l’armée israélienne] against Hezbollah in South Lebanon,” according to a military statement released Friday afternoon. The Israeli military “expresses its deep concern over incidents of this type and is currently conducting a thorough review at the highest level of command to establish the details of what happened,” the text added.

Half an hour later, the Israeli military reported that “Israeli Army soldiers operating in southern Lebanon have identified an immediate threat against them. They reacted with fire towards the threat,” indicates the Israeli army on its X account.

An “initial review” indicated that, during the incident, “a shot hit a UNIFIL post located approximately 50 meters from the source of the threat, resulting in the injury of two UNIFIL personnel », continues the text. The army says it “ordered UNIFIL personnel to go to protected areas and stay there. This instruction was in force at the time of the incident,” she adds.

The Israeli army says it “is in contact with UNIFIL for coordination purposes and will continue to be.” » She “continues to examine the circumstances of the incident. The terrorist organization Hezbollah deliberately acts with the intention of harming Israeli civilians from civilian areas and near UNIFIL posts, thus endangering the personnel of the UN force, the text concludes.

The Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned in a press release “the systematic and deliberate targeting” by the Israeli army of UNIFIL positions, as well as the request expressed in particular the day before by the Israeli ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, that the Blue Helmets evacuate their positions in South Lebanon. “This is a dangerous precedent, which once again confirms Israel’s contempt for international legitimacy, its non-compliance with international laws and conventions and international humanitarian law.” It could also be a “war crime”, according to Lebanese diplomacy, which has requested an “investigation” into this matter.

Convictions from Paris and Dublin

In Paris, the Quai d’Orsay announced that it had summoned the Israeli ambassador after this new attack against UNIFIL, of which France is one of the main contributors.

“These attacks constitute serious violations of international law and must stop immediately,” denounced the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a press release. “The Israeli authorities must explain themselves: France is therefore summoning the Israeli ambassador today,” added the text.

Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin declared for his part that Israeli fire against UNIFIL is “unacceptable” and represents “a very serious intensification of hostility” by the Israeli army against UN forces. The international community “must put pressure” on Israel to “put an end” to the shooting and ensure that peacekeepers “are not put in danger,” he told journalists. Ireland provides 347 of UNIFIL’s 10,000 troops.

Thursday’s strikes injured two Indonesian soldiers who were in a watchtower at UNIFIL headquarters in Naqoura, hit by tank fire. They were harshly condemned by the international community.