how the Israeli army has been targeting UNIFIL peacekeepers in Lebanon for several days

The headquarters of the international force was “hit by explosions for the second time in 48 hours”, the mission commented in a press release on Friday. Two Sri Lankan soldiers were injured.

History is repeating itself and the patience of the international community is being tested. Two Sri Lankan soldiers from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) were injured in Naqoura, in southern Lebanon, on Friday October 11, franceinfo learned from the Sri Lankan Ministry of Defense. One of them was hospitalized in serious condition, after receiving shrapnel in the neck. The soldier was operated on in a UNIFIL establishment, and he is now out of danger, while his comrade suffers minor injuries. The Sri Lankan contingent is around 125 soldiers strong, out of the 10,400 peacekeepers of the peacekeeping force, which controls the “blue line”, a 120 km long demarcation zone drawn in 2000 between Israel and Lebanon, when the Israeli army withdrew from South Lebanon.

“This morning, the UNIFIL headquarters in Naqoura was hit by explosions”the UN force later confirmed in a statement. “Two peacekeepers were injured after two explosions occurred near an observation tower. One injured peacekeeper was taken to a hospital in Tyre, while the second is being treated in Naqoura.”

UNIFIL added that “several T-walls [des structures défensives de béton] from our UN position 1-31, near the ‘blue line’ in Labbouneh, fell when an Israeli army Caterpillar hit the perimeter and IDF tanks moved close to the UN position.” Still according to this press release, the Blue Helmets maintained the position and a “Quick Reaction Force from UNIFIL was dispatched to assist and reinforce the position.” This was sent to help secure the damaged structures, UNIFIL told franceinfo.

At the end of the afternoon, the Israeli army, which has been carrying out a large-scale operation for several weeks against Hezbollah, recognized a shot “on a UNIFIL post, located approximately 50 meters from the source of a threat” identified by soldiers. The IDF said it was leading “a thorough review at the highest level of command”. The Ministry of Foreign AffairsLebanese foreigners, for its part, denounced “repeated and continued Israeli attempts to undermine UNIFIL’s mission.” “These acts pose a very great risk to the peacekeepers”affirmed the strength of the United Nations.

Already on Thursday, the international force condemned repeated attacks by the Israeli army on its infrastructure and soldiers. “Two peacekeepers were injured after an Israeli army Merkava tank fired on an observation tower of the UNIFIL headquarters in Ras al-Naqoura, directly hitting it and causing it to fall” of two soldiers, detailed the press release.

Of Indonesian nationality, according to a UNIFIL spokesperson, these soldiers are “still in the hospital” but “Their injuries are not serious”. The Israeli army, for its part, assured that “Lterrorist organization Hezbollah oper[ait] inside and near civilian areas of southern Lebanon, including areas near UNIFIL posts”. The IDF said it ordered UN forces in the area to remain in protected spaces, after which the forces opened fire in the area.

But “Israeli soldiers also fired on a UN position in Labbouneh”added UNIFIL, citing a border village located near the “blue line” between Israel and Lebanon, whose control is ensured by the peacekeeping mission. “The entrance to the bunker where the Blue Helmets found shelter” was affected, and “vehicles”as well as “communication systems”were damaged.

Finally on Wednesday, already in Naqoura, Israeli soldiers “deliberately shot the cameras from the position 1-32Aputting them out of action, and also deliberately fired on a position where tripartite meetings were regularly held before this conflict broke out.”denounced UNIFIL.

UNIFIL is not an operational force and its vocation is to deconflict the area, with intermediary troops. However, she has the right to use force in cases of self-defense. Why did she not initiate a response, if she judged that the Israeli maneuver was deliberate? Contacted by franceinfo, UNIFIL did not respond. At any rate, “the small arms of the peacekeepers could not have done much against the tank which fired on an observation tower”a source close to the matter told franceinfo.

Many chancelleries expressed their protests after these episodes. “These attacks constitute serious violations of international law and must stop immediately”reacted the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a press release on Friday, while announcing the summons of the Israeli ambassador to Paris. “We were dismayed to hear these reports. It is essential that peacekeepers and civilians are protected”commented a spokesperson for British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. “This represents a very serious intensification of the hostility of the Israeli army towards UN forces”condemned the Irish Foreign Minister, Micheal Martin, whose country supplies 347 soldiers to UNIFIL. “This is absolutely unacceptable”he denounced. Italy, through its Minister of Defense, spoke on Thursday of “very serious violations of the norms of international humanitarian law” and possible “war crimes”.