United Nations Interim Drive in Lebanon condemns assault as ‘deeply troubling’, no troops had been injured.
The UN peacekeeping drive in Lebanon has mentioned that Israeli hearth hit one in all its patrols within the nation’s south, regardless of a truce between Israel and Hamas largely quietening the Lebanon-Israel frontier.
“At around 12:00 pm, a UNIFIL patrol was hit by [Israeli army] gunfire” within the neighborhood of Aitarun, the United Nations Interim Drive in Lebanon mentioned in an announcement on Saturday.
“No peacekeepers were injured, but the vehicle was damaged,” it mentioned, including that “this incident occurred during a period of relative calm” alongside the border between Israel and Lebanon.
For the reason that Israel-Palestine conflict began on October 7, the frontier between Lebanon and Israel has seen intensifying exchanges of fireside, primarily between Israel and Shia motion Hezbollah, but in addition Palestinian teams, elevating fears of a broader conflagration.
The scope of the border preventing has steadily elevated over the weeks, however it has not become an all-out battle but. At first, the 2 sides began hitting one another with artillery assaults, and Israel additionally introduced in its drones.
A four-day truce between Israel and Hamas started on Friday, and a supply near Hezbollah informed the AFP information company that the Iran-backed group would additionally adhere to the truce if Israel did.
UNIFIL mentioned “this attack on peacekeepers, dedicated to reducing tensions and restoring stability in south Lebanon, is deeply troubling,” including, “we condemn this act.”
As we speak at round 12 pm, a UNIFIL patrol was hit by IDF gunfire within the neighborhood of Aytaroun, in southern Lebanon.
No peacekeepers had been injured, however the automobile was broken. This incident occurred throughout a interval of relative calm alongside the Blue Line.
— UNIFIL (@UNIFIL_) November 25, 2023
Final month, shelling frivolously wounded a UN peacekeeper close to the border village of Hula, simply hours after UNIFIL mentioned a shell hit its headquarters in Naqura close to the Israel-Lebanon border.
The drive mentioned it was investigating these incidents.
“We strongly remind the parties of their obligations to protect peacekeepers and avoid putting the men and women who are working to restore stability at risk,” Saturday’s UNIFIL assertion mentioned.
Cross-border hearth has killed 109 folks in Lebanon, together with 77 Hezbollah fighters and 14 civilians, three of them journalists, in line with an AFP rely.
Six Israeli troopers and three civilians have been killed on the Israeli facet, in line with the authorities.
Whilst many Lebanese could really feel for the plight of Palestinians, additionally they fear getting entangled in a new conflict, many having already skilled the 2006 battle during which greater than 1,200 folks had been killed in Lebanon, lots of them civilians. No less than 165 Israelis had been additionally killed.
For the reason that pause went into impact on Friday, calm has largely returned to Lebanon’s southern border.
UNIFIL was arrange in 1978 to watch the withdrawal of Israeli forces after they invaded Lebanon in reprisal for a Palestinian assault.
It was bolstered after the battle between Hezbollah and Israel in 2006, and its roughly 10,000 peacekeepers are tasked with monitoring the ceasefire between the 2 sides.
