According to the UN Interim Force, early Wednesday morning, UN peacekeepers deployed in the Kafr Kela area saw Israeli forces shelling a UNIFIL observation tower with Markava tanks.
In this incident, two cameras were destroyed and the tower was also damaged. The UN mission reiterated its outrage that “we witness direct, possibly deliberate, shelling of UNIFIL positions.”
The UN Mission reminds the Israeli military and all parties concerned of their responsibility to protect UN personnel and property.
Even before Wednesday’s incident, there have been incidents of shooting in the past few days, in which five peacekeepers are reported to have been injured so far.
Top UN officials, including the UN Secretary General, expressed deep concern over the current situation in Lebanon and reiterated that UN premises must be respected at all times, without exception.
He stressed that attacks against UN peacekeepers could be classified as a violation of international law and a war crime.
Security Council mandated
The UNIFIL mission, established by the UN Security Council, is tasked with monitoring a ceasefire between Israel and the Hezbollah faction, ensuring the withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon, and restoring Lebanese government authority to the region.
The spokesperson of the UN mission made it clear that despite the difficult situation and threats to the safety and well-being of peacekeepers, UNIFIL is committed to carrying out its mandate.
Spokesperson Andrea Tenenti said in an exclusive interview with UN News that UN peacekeepers are constantly monitoring the situation and keeping the Security Council informed.
In addition, humanitarian aid is reaching millions of people in Lebanon and efforts are being made to provide relief to affected families in the region.
Heavy gunfire
Meanwhile, heavy shelling has been reported over the past 24 hours along and beyond the ‘Blue Line’, the line separating Lebanon and Israel.
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said on Wednesday that UNIFIL had collected data on 58 cases of violations along the Blue Line so far. This is the first time since October 8 last year that such a large number of cases have been reported in 24 hours.
The UN spokesman said UN equipment and centers were damaged in some areas due to firing from close range of UN peacekeeper positions.
While there are no reports of any peacekeepers being injured in these incidents, they remain at risk. In view of this, UN peacekeepers have been requested to ensure safety and security.