WASHINGTON

The UN said Wednesday that investigations are underway into deadly attacks that killed three peacekeepers serving with its mission in southern Lebanon.

UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters that the attacks on personnel with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) were “unacceptable” and demand full accountability.

"Investigations by us are underway, and despite the challenging situation on the ground, we hope to be able to update you with those results as soon as possible," Dujarric said.

The comments came after UNIFIL reported that three of its peacekeepers were killed in separate incidents in southern Lebanon within hours of each other, highlighting the fragile security situation as fighting between Israel and Hezbollah continues.

Dujarric added that the process takes time, "as technical experts examine physical evidence on the scene, while others look at the context and liaise with parties to collect and verify information."

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasized that the investigations should proceed "as quickly as possible, as safely as possible."