UN mission denounces attack on peacekeepers in southern Lebanon

BBEIRUT / ISTANBUL

The UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon (UNIFIL) on Tuesday condemned an attack on its personnel during a patrol in the south.

The mission said its peacekeepers were confronted by a group of individuals, who tried to obstruct a UNIFIL patrol in the vicinity of Hallusiyat al-Tahta in southern Lebanon.

“In response, UNIFIL personnel employed non-lethal measures to ensure the safety of both the patrol members and those present,” it added in a statement.

No injuries were reported in the incident.

UNIFIL called on the Lebanese authorities to take all necessary measures to ensure that its peacekeepers can carry out their duties without obstruction or threat.

“It is unacceptable that UNIFIL peacekeepers continue to be targeted,” the UN mission said.

“Freedom of movement is a core requirement for the implementation of UNIFIL’s mandate. This includes the ability to operate independently and impartially, as outlined in UN Security Council Resolution 1701,” it said.

The Lebanese Foreign Ministry, for its part, denounced the attack on the UN peacekeepers and called for holding the perpetrators accountable.

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam also condemned the attack, reiterating Lebanon’s commitment to the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended hostilities between Israel and the Lebanese group Hezbollah in 2006.

The resolution calls for the deployment of UN peacekeepers in Lebanon, and support for the Lebanese army’s control over the southern region.

Israel has conducted near-daily attacks in southern Lebanon, claiming to target Hezbollah’s activities despite a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon reached last November. The truce ended months of cross-border warfare between Israel and Hezbollah, which escalated into a full-scale conflict in September.

Under the ceasefire deal, Israel was supposed to fully withdraw from southern Lebanon by Jan. 26, but the deadline was extended to Feb. 18 after Israel refused to comply. Israel still maintains a military presence at five border outposts.