During Thursday and Friday, there were reports that posts for UN peacekeeping forces in southern Lebanon were shelled by Israel’s military.
During Thursday, it resulted in two injured UN soldiers. During Friday, two more were injured.
Israel’s military admitted on Friday that it was their shelling that injured two of the soldiers.
The military stated that they fired at a threat within 50 meters of the UN camp but that the shelling injured UN personnel. According to the military, they had warned the people in the camp to seek shelter.
Not a fighting unit
There have been peacekeeping forces in southern Lebanon since 2006 when resolution 1701 was adopted after the Lebanon war between Israel and Hezbollah. According to the resolution, the UN must counter the hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah with peacekeeping forces, as well as support the Lebanese army at the border with Israel.
Along the border, the “blue line” was established, a stretch of 120 kilometers guarded by UN troops. However, the latest shelling risks jeopardizing the UN initiative.
– The idea is not that they should be a fighting unit, but that they should patrol and maintain control, says Isak Svensson, professor of peace and conflict research.
He continues:
– There is a risk in the long run that the UN may withdraw from the region. Then it is free to move forward and it can contribute to further escalation.
Condemnation of the outside world
After the attacks, Lebanon’s Prime Minister Najib Mikati said in a televised speech that the country will strengthen the military presence on the border.
Condemnations have also poured in from the outside world. UN Secretary-General António Guterres called the shelling unacceptable. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin called his Israeli counterpart and asked him to try to guarantee the safety of UN troops.
And European giants France, Italy and Spain published a joint statement condemning the shelling.
“The attacks are indefensible and must stop immediately,” the nations’ leaders wrote, reminding the Israeli military that the shelling violates both Resolution 1701 and international law.