Naqoura, South Lebanon: The United Nations peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon confirms 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.
The statement also mentions that, “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, any deliberate attack on peacekeepers is a grave violation of international humanitarian law.”
UNIFIL said on X that, “Any deliberate attack on peacekeepers is a grave violation of international humanitarian law and Security Council resolution 1701 (2006).”
One of the injured peacekeepers was taken to a hospital in the nearby city of Tyre, while the other was treated at the site.
The organisation also said that, “several T-walls at our UN position 1-31, near the Blue Line in Labbouneh, fell when an [Israeli military] caterpillar hit the perimeter and [Israeli] tanks moved in the proximity of the UN position,” referring to the demarcation line between Israel and Lebanon.
The statement noted that, “our peacekeepers remained at the location,” indicating that additional personnel were deployed to strengthen their presence.
The Israeli military (IDF) said in a statement that, it is conducting a thorough review of the incident where two peacekeepers were “inadvertently” hurt in southern Lebanon. IDF later said two personnel with the UN peacekeeping mission were wounded when Israeli forces responded to a threat.
IDF added that, it had instructed UNIFIL personnel to go to protected areas and remain there hours before the incident.
Lebanon’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs earlier mentioned that the attacks were on watchtowers, 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 a member of the Sri Lankan battalion, without specifying their exact location.
International condemnation
Speaking at a news conference in Beirut, Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said Israel’s actions were a “denounced crime”. PM added that he had discussed efforts to reach a ceasefire in Lebanon with United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
Hezbollah also condemned the Israeli attacks. The group’s media chief Mohammad Afif said that the attacks are targeting UN peacekeepers, civilians, residential areas, hospitals and medical staff, and slammed the “excuses” and justifications the Israeli military uses to keep hitting them, including saying they contain weapons and explosives.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that, it was “very clear that this incident is intolerable and cannot be repeated”.
Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs commented that, it was ‘outraged’ by the targeting of UNIFIL peacekeepers and demanded that Israel refrain from any ‘hostile actions’ against them.
Human Rights Watch called for a UN inquiry into the attacks and said the deliberate targeting of UN missions is a ‘war crime’.
“UN peacekeepers in south Lebanon have long played a critical civilian protection and humanitarian role,” said Lama Fakih, Middle East and North Africa director at the New York-based rights group. “Any targeting of UN peacekeepers by Israeli forces violates the laws of war and dangerously interferes with UNIFIL’s civilian protection and aid work.”
China expressed “grave concern and strong condemnation” of the attacks on UN peacekeepers.
India called for respect for the inviolability of UN premises, stressing the need for measures to ensure peacekeeper safety.
Leaders from France, Italy, and Spain condemned the attacks as “unjustifiable,” demanding an immediate halt and citing violations of UN Security Council Resolution 1701.
Qatar condemned the attacks “in the strongest forms” and demanded an independent investigation into the incidents involving UN peacekeepers in Lebanon.
Assault on Blue Helmets
The 2nd attack comes a day after UN peacekeepers said the Israeli military “repeatedly” fired at UNIFIL headquarters and positions in southern Lebanon. Two Indonesian peacekeepers were injured and remained in hospital, the mission said.
UNIFIL personnel wear blue helmets to be clearly identifiable and their position is known to the Israeli military.
The attacks on UN peacekeeping operations in Lebanon have indeed sparked widespread international condemnation. This situation highlights the delicate balance of international relations and the need for cooperative efforts to maintain peace and security in conflict zones.