NEW YORK (WAM)
The United Nations reported that a UN peacekeeping position has been “apparently deliberately” struck by incoming fire from Israeli forces on Wednesday.
According to the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), early morning on Wednesday (local time), peacekeepers in position near Kafer Kela observed an IDF Merkava tank firing at their watchtower. Two cameras were destroyed, and the tower was damaged.
“Yet again we see direct and apparently deliberate fire on a UNIFIL position,” the Mission said in a statement.
“We remind the IDF and all actors of their obligations to ensure the safety and security of UN personnel and property and to respect the inviolability of UN premises at all times,” it stressed.
Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, affirmed that the town of Nabatieh in southern Lebanon was attacked by Israeli forces on Wednesday, including the town’s municipal building.
“This attack follows other incidents in which civilians and civilian infrastructure have been targeted across Lebanon. Today’s reported killing of a humanitarian first responder is, tragically, part of this pattern,” she noted.
The UN official stressed that, “Violations of international humanitarian law are utterly unacceptable. Civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected at all times.”
“As the theatre and intensity of the exchanges of fire continue to expand, civilian suffering is reaching unprecedented heights,” she said. “It is time for all concerned actors to immediately cease their fire and open the door to diplomatic solutions capable of realising the needs of citizens and advancing regional stability.”
She noted that military solutions will not and cannot bring safety or security to either side of the Blue Line.
Meanwhile, intense exchanges of fire along and beyond the “Blue Line” of separation between Israel and Lebanon continued over the past 24 hours, UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said.
He added that the UNIFIL recorded 58 air violations – the highest number for a 24-hour period since October 8 last year, citing reports from the Mission.
It also detected 1,279 projectiles across the Blue Line – 1,208 of which originated from south of the Blue Line heading north, and 71 from the north heading.
Dujarric added that UNIFIL also reported that indirect fire and firing from close to UN positions caused material damage to UN equipment and facilities near Dayr Amis in Sector West and Shab’a in Sector East of the peacekeepers area of operations.
“Fortunately, no peacekeepers were wounded in these incidents. But they do continue to put our peacekeepers…at serious risk,” he said, reiterating that the safety and security of UN personnel and property must be ensured by all actors.