Israeli forces fired at UNIFIL headquarters in southern Lebanon, injuring two Indonesian peacekeepers.
UNIFIL – the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon – said on Thursday that two peacekeepers were injured when an Israeli tank fired at a watchtower at the force’s headquarters in the border area town of Naqoura, causing them to fall.
Any attack on peacekeepers is a “grave violation of international humanitarian law”, UNIFIL said in a statement.
On Friday, Lebanon’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Israeli army hit a watchtower of a Sri Lankan battalion in Naqoura, part of UNIFIL, in the second such attack in as many days.
The peacekeeping organisation, which consists of about 10,000 peacekeepers from 50 countries and was established in 1978, said Israeli forces had “deliberately” fired at its positions along the border.
Here are some reactions to the attacks:
United Nations
Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the UN undersecretary general for peace operations, told the UN Security Council that the “safety and security” of UN peacekeepers in Lebanon is “increasingly in jeopardy”.
He said that operational activities had virtually come to a halt since September 23, when Israel launched a wave of strikes against Hezbollah strongholds in Lebanon.
“Peacekeepers have been confined to their bases with significant periods of time in shelter,” he said, adding that UNIFIL was ready to support all efforts towards a diplomatic solution.
“UNIFIL is mandated to support the implementation of resolution 1701, but we must insist that it is for the parties themselves to implement the provisions of this resolution,” he told an emergency meeting of the 15-member council.
UN Security Council resolution 1701 gives UNIFIL a mandate to help the Lebanese army keep its southern border area with Israel free of weapons or armed personnel other than those of the Lebanese state.
UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti told Al Jazeera that the attack was a “very serious” development.
Tenenti explained that Israel had previously asked the peacekeepers to move from “certain positions” near the border, but “we decided to stay because it’s important for the UN flag to fly in [the] south of Lebanon”.
“If the situation becomes impossible for the mission to operate in the south of Lebanon … it will be up to the Security Council to decide how to move forward,” he said.
“At the moment, we are staying, we are trying to do whatever we can to monitor [and] to provide assistance,” Tenenti added.
Indonesia
Minister for Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi confirmed on Friday that two Indonesian peacekeepers had been injured in the assault and are in hospital for further observation.
“Indonesia strongly condemns the attack,” she said. “Attacking UN personnel and property is a major violation of International Humanitarian Law.”
Indonesia, a staunch critic of Israel and supporter of Palestine, has about 1,232 personnel currently deployed with UNIFIL in Lebanon.
Israel
Israel’s military said its troops opened fire near a UNIFIL base after instructing UN forces in the area to remain in protected spaces.
It said in a statement that Hezbollah fighters operate from within and near civilian areas in southern Lebanon, including areas near UNIFIL posts.
The military said it “is operating in southern Lebanon and maintains routine communication with UNIFIL”.
Israel’s UN ambassador, Danny Danon, said he recommended that the peacekeeping force relocate five kilometres (3.1 milies) north “while the situation along the Blue Line remains volatile as a result of Hezbollah aggression”, referring to the demarcation line between Lebanon and Israel.
United States
The White House is “deeply concerned” by reports Israel fired on UN peacekeeper headquarters in south Lebanon, a National Security Council spokesperson said.
“We understand Israel is conducting targeted operations near the Blue Line to destroy Hezbollah infrastructure that could be used to threaten Israeli citizens,” the spokesperson said. “While they undertake these operations, it is critical that they not threaten UN peacekeepers’ safety and security.”
Italy
Minister of Defence Guido Crosetto called the attack on the UNIFIL bases “totally unacceptable”.
“This was not a mistake and not an accident,” Crosetto told a news conference.
“It could constitute a war crime and represented a very serious violation of international military law,” he said.
He added that he had summoned the Israeli ambassador to demand an explanation for the attack.
France
The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs condemned the attack and said it was waiting for an explanation from Israel as to why the attack took place.
“France expresses its deep concern following the Israeli shots that hit [UNIFIL] and condemns any attack on the security of UNIFIL,” the ministry said in a statement.
“The protection of peacekeepers is an obligation that applies to all parties to a conflict,” the statement added.
Spain
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs called the attack a “grave violation of international law”.
“The Spanish government strongly condemns the Israeli fire that hit the UNIFIL headquarters in Naqoura,” the ministry said in a statement, adding that the security of the peacekeepers is “guaranteed”.
Ireland
Irish leader Simon Harris condemned the attack and said that “any firing in the vicinity of UNIFIL troops or facilities is reckless and must stop”.
Ireland has about 370 troops in the peacekeeping mission.
Turkey
“Israel’s attack on UN forces, following its massacres against civilians in Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon is a manifestation of its perception that its crimes go unpunished,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
“The international community is obligated to ensure that Israel abides by the international law,” said the ministry in a statement.
Turkey has five personnel at UNIFIL headquarters and contributes to the UNIFIL Maritime Task Force with one “corvette/frigate”.
European Union
Foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the attack on the peacekeepers, whose positions are well known, is an “inadmissible act, for which there is no justification”.
“Two Blue Helmets have been wounded and this is unacceptable. Any deliberate attack on peacekeepers is a grave violation of International Humanitarian Law and of the UNSC [UN Security Council] Resolution 1701: Israel has an obligation to respect both. Full accountability is needed,” Borrell wrote on X.
He reiterated the EU’s “full support” to UNIFIL.
European Council President Charles Michel said: “An attack against a UN peace mission is not responsible, is not acceptable and that’s why we call on Israel and we call on all sides to fully respect international humanitarian law.”
China
Mao Ning, spokeswoman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that China expressed “grave concern and strong condemnation” of the Israeli military’s “attack on UNIFIL positions and observation posts, which resulted “in injuries to UNIFIL personnel”.
India
Expressing concern over the “deteriorating security situation along the Blue Line”, the Ministry of External Affairs said, “Inviolability of UN premises must be respected by all and appropriate measures taken to ensure the safety of UN peacekeepers and the sanctity of their mandate.”
Canada
“Canada calls for the protection of peacekeepers and humanitarian workers, and for all parties to comply with international humanitarian law,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
Canada, which has been largely supportive of Israel’s military offensive in Lebanon, has said the attack on UN peacekeepers was “alarming and unacceptable”.
