UNITED NATIONS, United States: In a powerful statement on Saturday, forty nations contributing to the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon expressed their “strong condemnation” of recent violence directed at the peacekeepers.
“These acts must cease immediately, and a thorough investigation is imperative,” declared a joint statement shared on X by the Polish UN mission, with signatures from key players like Indonesia, Italy, and India, among others.
Other countries lending their support include Ghana, Nepal, Malaysia, Spain, France, and China—nations each providing numerous troops to the peacekeeping force.
Amidst rising tensions, at least five peacekeepers have sustained injuries in recent days as Israel intensifies its conflicts with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.
The mission, UNIFIL, has made serious allegations against the Israeli military, accusing them of “deliberately” targeting their positions.
In the statement, the forty countries “reaffirm our unwavering support for UNIFIL’s mission, which primarily aims to establish stability and enduring peace in both South Lebanon and the greater Middle East region.”
They also implored the conflicting sides to “acknowledge UNIFIL’s presence and their obligation to ensure the safety of its personnel at all times.”
UNIFIL, which comprises about 9,500 soldiers from roughly 50 different countries, is tasked with overseeing a ceasefire that concluded the 33-day Israel-Hezbollah conflict in 2006.
The mission’s importance was enhanced by UN Security Council Resolution 1701, stating that only Lebanese forces and UN peacekeepers have the right to operate in southern Lebanon.
At a recent summit, leaders from France, Italy, and Spain asserted that the “attacks” on UNIFIL troops breach Resolution 1701 and must come to an end.
UNIFIL disclosed that, lately, its forces in Naqura, where its headquarters is located, and other locations have “repeatedly” come under fire.
On Thursday, the mission reported an incident where tank fire from Israel caused two Indonesian peacekeepers to fall from a watchtower in Naqura.
The following day saw explosions near an observation tower in Naqura, injuring two Sri Lankan Blue Helmets, though Israel claimed the action was in response to an “immediate threat” near a UN position.
UNIFIL also reported that on Friday night, a peacekeeper in Naqura “sustained gunshot wounds.”
Spokesperson Andrea Tenenti revealed to AFP that the ongoing hostilities have made the peacekeeping mission’s work “extremely challenging due to extensive damage, even within their bases.”
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
