OVIEDO, Spain

Spain on Tuesday condemned the latest Israeli attacks on UN peacekeepers in Lebanon, calling them “unacceptable” and warning of a serious escalation.

“The last attack once again threatened the physical safety of the Spanish contingent, in a succession of actions that represents a serious escalation against United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) personnel and infrastructure,” a Spanish Foreign Ministry statement said.

The condemnation follows a report by UNIFIL, which said Israeli tanks entered Lebanese territory on Monday. After peacekeepers requested that the tanks halt their activity, one of them fired a shell.

The shell landed about 150 meters (500 feet) from a UNIFIL position that included Spanish troops.

“As the peacekeepers moved away for safety, they were continuously tracked with a laser from the tanks,” UNIFIL said. “The tanks withdrew about half an hour later. Fortunately, no one was injured.”

Madrid urged Israel to respect UN peacekeepers and comply with its obligations under international law.

“Spain reiterates its commitment to Lebanon’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and stability,” the statement said, reaffirming its support for UNIFIL’s work, which it described as essential to achieving those goals.

On Monday, UNIFIL warned that Israeli attacks on clearly identifiable peacekeepers “are becoming disturbingly common” and constitute a “serious violation” of a 2006 UN resolution.