The Blue Helmets refused to leave the border area in southern Lebanon as demanded by the Israeli army, determined to stay there despite the attacks which left five injured, in order to plead for de-escalation, assured AFP on Saturday their spokesperson.
“The Israeli forces asked us to leave our positions along the Blue Line, from the border up to five kilometers from the Blue Line,” explained Andrea Tenenti, spokesperson for the Interim Force, in an interview with AFP. of the United Nations in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
The force, which numbers 10,000 men, is now under the crossfire of Israel and Hezbollah, who entered into open war three weeks ago.
If the Israeli army asked UNIFIL to empty “around 29 positions” near the border, it did not mention its headquarters, located in Ras al-Naqoura on the border, which came under fire, particularly from Israelis, repeatedly, depending on strength.
“But there was a unanimous decision for us to stay, because the UN flag must fly in this area and we must be able to report to the UN Security Council,” he continues.
On Thursday, UNIFIL accused Israeli troops of “repeatedly” and “deliberately” firing on its positions, sparking a diplomatic outcry.
Five peacekeepers have since been injured in attacks, according to the UN force.
Rome and Paris summoned Israeli ambassadors to their soil and Italy went so far as to speak of possible “war crimes”.
Israel, for its part, explained that it had fired in the direction of a “threat” near a UNIFIL position in southern Lebanon where its army is carrying out a vast air offensive and ground incursions against Hezbollah, an ally of Hamas. Palestinian.
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