‘Targeting of peacekeepers unacceptable’: UN
The United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) says “the targeting of peacekeepers is unacceptable” after four observers on a foot patrol along the Blue Line demarcating the border between Israel and Lebanon were wounded when a shell exploded near their location.
UNTSO did not identify the source of the shelling but Lebanon’s official National News Agency (NNA) blamed Israel.
The UN peacekeeping mission said the injured personnel were taken to a hospital for treatment and an investigation was launched into the origin of the explosion. NNA said the peacekeepers, travelling with a Lebanese translator, were from Norway, Chile and Australia.
“All actors have a responsibility under international humanitarian law to avoid targeting non-combatants, including peacekeepers, journalists, medical personnel, and civilians,” UNTSO said.
“We repeat our call for all actors to cease the current heavy exchanges of fire before more people are unnecessarily hurt.”
UN peacekeepers drive in Marjayoun, near the border with Israel, in southern Lebanon
‘Verified information’ needed for careful probe on Lebanon explosion: UNIFIL
Andrea Tenenti, a spokesperson for the UN peacekeeping force, has told Al Jazeera that the organisation is carefully investigating the explosion that injured four of its personnel this morning in southern Lebanon.
He warned that escalating cross-border attacks risked triggering “a much wider conflict”.
“We need to be very careful to get all the information, verified information from our own sources, in order to finalise an investigation report and present it to the UN Security Council,” Tenenti said.
“We have 10,500 peacekeepers working 24/7 along the Blue Line to monitor and try to de-escalate the situation,” he said, calling on all parties to bring “exchanges of fire” to a halt and move towards a “diplomatic solution”.
UN peacekeepers hold their flag, as they observe Israeli excavators at work, near the southern Lebanese-Israeli border village of Mays al-Jabal, Lebanon
Israeli strikes reported in southern Lebanon
The Lebanese news agency NNA reports a series of Israeli attacks across southern Lebanon after an explosion earlier injured three UNIFIL observers and a Lebanese translator on a patrol mission.
- Two consecutive air raids targeted residential homes in the town of Naqoura. Ambulances headed to the site of the attack.
- Israeli warplanes launched two raids on the town of Taybeh.
- An air raid targeted the town of Hanin.
- The towns of Tayr Harfa, Yarin, and Al-Dhahira came under direct artillery shelling.
