The UN peacekeeping mission in south Lebanon said in a statement Tuesday evening that “UNIFIL peacekeepers and facilities were targeted today in three separate incidents in southern Lebanon, resulting in the injury of six peacekeepers in one of these incidents.”
It announced that “four Ghanaian peacekeepers were injured by a rocket while performing their duties – likely launched by non-governmental entities within Lebanon – that struck their base, ‘UNP 5-42,’ east of the town of Ramiyeh. Three of the injured were transported to a hospital in Tyre for treatment.”
It added, “In another incident, the headquarters of UNIFIL’s Western Sector in Shamaa was hit by five rockets that struck the maintenance workshop. Despite the extensive damage to the workshop, no peacekeepers were injured. This is the second time in less than a week that a UNIFIL base has been affected by the ongoing clashes in the area, following a live artillery shell of 155 mm caliber striking the headquarters on November 15.”
The statement continued, “While a UNIFIL patrol was passing along a road northeast of the village of Khirbet Silm, an armed individual opened fire directly at the patrol. No injuries were reported among the peacekeepers in this incident.”
UNIFIL has launched investigations into each of these incidents and has informed the Lebanese Armed Forces.
UNIFIL reiterated its call for all parties involved in the ongoing hostilities to respect the sanctity of UN peacekeepers and their facilities. It emphasised that the patterns of systematic attacks – both direct and indirect – against peacekeepers must cease immediately.
It stressed that “any attack on peacekeepers constitutes a blatant violation of international laws and Resolution 1701, which forms the basis of UNIFIL’s current mandate. Despite these and other challenges, peacekeepers will remain at all their posts and continue to monitor and impartially report violations of Resolution 1701.”Â
