UN reports fifth peacekeeper wounded in Lebanon as EU leaders condemn 'deliberate targeting' of UNIFIL soldiers

12 October 2024, 16:11

The UN has said that five of its peacekeepers have been injured in South Lebanon near the Israeli border over the last two days.

It comes after EU leaders voiced their 'outrage' at Israel as they urged the nation to stop targeting UN peacekeepers in Lebanon following a number of incidents over the last 48 hours.

“Last night, a peacekeeper at Unifil’s headquarters” in Naqura “was hit by gunfire due to ongoing military activity nearby … We do not yet know the origin of the fire,” a UN spokesperson told AFP.

Today, a joint statement by the leaders of France, Italy and Spain condemned the incidents as an "unjustifiable" breach of international humanitarian law.

The nations, which all contribute troops to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), spoke out after two Sri Lankan soldiers from the UN force were injured on Friday.

It was the second incident in 48 hours involving UNIFIL peacekeepers, with Israeli troops firing at two Indonesian soldiers from a tank on Thursday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Spanish counterpart Pedro Sanchez and French President Emmanuel Macron jointly condemned what the French president referred to as Israel's "deliberate targeting" of UNIFIL soldiers.

"We condemn it, we do not tolerate it and we do not tolerate it happening again," Mr Macron said.

It comes as tensions between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon continue to rise, as Israel's ground offensive continues in the region.

On Friday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed its troops were responsible for an incident in which two Sri Lankan soldiers in Naqoura were shot at, adding the incident would be investigated "at the highest levels".

It follows Thursday, Unfil's two Indonesian soldiers were injured falling from an observation tower after an Israeli tank fired towards it.

France, Italy and Spain's joint statement condemning Israel's actions labelled the attacks "unjustifiable".

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Following the incidents, Sri Lanka's foreign ministry said it "strongly condemns" the IDF's actions.

The Israeli military expressed "deep concern" on Friday following news of the attacks.

Following the news, US President Joe Biden condemned the attacks, with Downing Street adding it was "appalled" by reports that Israel deliberately fired on peacekeepers.

It comes as 13 Palestinians were killed late in Gaza late on Friday night by Israeli strikes on a house in Jabalia.

Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) says thousands of people remain trapped a week after Israel launched its offensive targeting Hamas militants.