Israeli forces have allegedly opened fire on UN peacekeepers in Lebanon, as Israel stretches its attacks throughout Lebanon.
According to the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said on Thursday, two UN peacekeepers were injured when an Israeli tank fired at a watchtower at the force’s headquarters in Ras an-Naqoura, causing them to fall.
UNIFIL has however, restated that any attack on peacekeepers is a “grave violation of international humanitarian law”.
The peacekeeping organisation, consisting of about 10,000 peacekeepers from 50 countries and was founded in 1978.
UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti told Al Jazeera that the attack was a “very serious” development.
“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.
“At the moment, we are staying, we are trying to do whatever we can to monitor [and] to provide assistance,” Tenenti explained.
But Israel’s military said prior warning was sent to UN forces in the area to remain in protected spaces before its troops opened fire near a UNIFIL.
It also claimed that Hezbollah fighters operate from within and near civilian areas in southern Lebanon, including areas near UNIFIL posts.
“The IDF is operating in southern Lebanon and maintains routine communication with UNIFIL,” the Israeli military said, using the acronym for Israel Defense Forces.
Israel’s UN ambassador, Danny Danon, said he recommended that the peacekeeping force relocate five kilometers north “while the situation along the Blue line remains volatile as a result of Hezbollah aggression”.
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