UN peacekeepers leave guard post due to shooting by Israel – World

BEIRUT, October 25. /TASS/. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has reported another incident on the Lebanese-Israeli border that could have endangered peacekeepers stationed there, the UNIFIL news agency said in a message circulated on the social network .

According to the statement, on October 22, a group of peacekeepers on duty monitored Israeli soldiers conducting a clean-up operation in the village of Al-Duheira in southern Lebanon. “When they realized they were being observed, the IDF soldiers fired at the post,” the statement said. “The guards on duty withdrew to avoid being shot.”

“We remind the IDF and all actors of their obligations to ensure the safety and security of UN personnel and property,” the message emphasized. It noted that “any deliberate attack on them would constitute a grave violation of international humanitarian law and (UN) Resolution 1701.”

On October 10, UNIFIL reported that the Israeli army had shelled its headquarters in Naqoura, wounding two peacekeepers. On October 11, two more peacekeepers were injured, and on October 12, one peacekeeper suffered a bullet injury.

UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti stated that the UN force had previously rejected Israeli demands to move their observation posts five kilometers from the Lebanon-Israel border where they patrol.

Israel believes that by remaining in place, UN peacekeepers are “becoming hostages” of the armed Hezbollah militias targeted by Israeli forces.