The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) denounced this Wednesday a new attack by Israel against one of its positions in southern Lebanon. The UN reported no injuries.
“This morning, peacekeepers stationed near Kafer Kela observed an Israel Defense Forces tank fire on one of their observation towers,” the UN peacekeeping mission said in a statement. a press release. “Two rooms were destroyed and the tower was damaged.”
“Once again we are witnessing direct and apparently deliberate fire against a UNIFIL position,” the statement said. “We remind the Israel Defense Forces and all actors of their obligations to ensure the security of UN personnel, their assets and to respect the inviolability of UN facilities at all times.”
In recent days, Israel has launched several attacks on UN peacekeeping mission positions, injuring several people, penetrating its bases and even demolishing its walls using military bulldozers.
The Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, and her European counterparts met this Wednesday to analyze the peace mission and expressed their “firm determination” to continue an operation that they consider “relevant and necessary”, while demanding an immediate ceasefire.
The ministers noted that the mission plays a “key role” in the stability of the area despite demands from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for soldiers to withdraw. This Wednesday, Israel once again affirmed that UNIFIL was providing Hezbollah with human shields.
“We have come together to highlight our concern at this time regarding the situation of UNIFIL in Lebanon. We have been very clear in saying that it is essential and fundamental that this mission continues to comply with the United Nations resolution,” Robles said.
UNIFIL was established in 1978 to restore peace in southern Lebanon and has 10,000 peacekeepers from 50 nationalities, including 16 European countries.
