(CNN) – The security of United Nations peacekeepers in southern Lebanon is increasingly at risk because of Israel’s ground incursion, UN force chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix warned after Israeli fire wounded two of the organization’s soldiers on Thursday.
On Thursday, the UN In a briefing to the Security Council, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Lacroix described the hostilities between Israeli forces and the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group in southern Lebanon as “highly dangerous” and “putting peacekeeping forces at grave risk”. .”
“The security of peacekeeping forces is increasingly at risk,” Lacroix declared.
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) announced early Thursday that peacekeepers were injured when an Israeli tank fired on an observation tower at its headquarters in Nagora, southern Lebanon.
UNIFIL said an Israeli tank directly hit the fire tower, causing the peacekeepers to fall, while other “adjacent positions were hit repeatedly”.
UNIFIL said, “Any deliberate attack against peacekeeping forces is a serious violation of international humanitarian law.”
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) accused Hezbollah of operating in areas near UNIFIL posts and said in a statement that it had asked UNIFIL forces to “remain in safe locations” during the incident.
“The IDF is operating in southern Lebanon and maintains regular communications with UNIFIL,” the Israeli armed forces said in a statement after Thursday’s incident.
“This morning (Thursday), IDF troops were active in the Nagora area next to the UNIFIL base. “Following this, the IDF ordered UN forces in the area to remain in protected positions, after which the forces opened fire in the area,” the statement added.
Two Indonesian peacekeepers have been hospitalized, UN deputy spokesman Farhan Huq said. His injuries were not serious, he said.
UN peacekeepers have been stationed in southern Lebanon since 2006 under the mandate of the United Nations Security Council. Blue helmets from the armies of various countries have been recruited to monitor the situation along the 120-km-long Blue Line that separates the two states.
The incident comes as Israel expands its offensive across Lebanon. According to the Lebanese Ministry of Health, at least 22 people were killed and 117 injured in Israeli attacks in a densely populated Beirut neighborhood this Thursday.
A source in the militant group and Israeli media reports said a senior Hezbollah official was the target of the attack. Wafiq Safa, head of Hezbollah’s communications unit, survived the assassination attempt, a Hezbollah source told CNN. Israel has not publicly claimed responsibility for Thursday’s attacks or confirmed any targets.
UN Injuries to peacekeepers, UN in Lebanon The peacekeeping operation drew condemnation from several countries, including Italy, France and Ireland.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni summoned the Israeli ambassador in Rome on Thursday after what she described as “unacceptable” behavior by Israeli forces.
Meloni’s office said on Thursday that two Italian UNIFIL bases had been “hit by Israeli army fire”, and the prime minister spoke with General Stefano Messina, commander of the UNIFIL mission’s western wing, to get information about the safety of Italian troops.
An Italian government statement said the Italian leader contacted Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and said “what is happening near the Italian UNIFIL bases in southern Lebanon” is “unacceptable”.
Indonesia’s UN The embassy criticized Israel for the “deliberate attacks”, saying on Friday that Israel’s actions “represent a blatant attempt to sow terror on the ground to intimidate the peacekeeping mission and the international community”.
France also expressed “deep concern” following the attack, saying it was “awaiting an explanation from the Israeli authorities”.
“The protection of the Blue Helmets is an obligation imposed on all parties involved in the conflict. “Respecting this obligation, France urges parties to allow UNIFIL to continue to implement its mandate, including respect for its freedom of movement,” a French foreign ministry spokesman said.
Irish Foreign Minister Michael Martin described as “reprehensible” and “unacceptable” the “targeted firing of Israel Defense Forces (IDF) against UNIFIL positions”.
Earlier this week, Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris expressed concern after Irish peacekeepers stopped Israeli tanks near a UN observation post.
The EU’s high representative for foreign affairs, Joseph Borrell, condemned what he called an “unacceptable act”, publishing in X: “Another line has been dangerously crossed in Lebanon: the IDF bombardment against the UN blue helmets. “We condemn this unacceptable act, which has no There is no justice.”
The EU foreign policy chief reiterated his support for UNIFIL and demanded full accountability for the incident.
CHarbel Mallo, Ben Wedeman, Eyad Kourdi, Tamara Qiblawi and Sharon Braithwaite of CNN contributed to this report.
