Israeli attacks against UNIFIL garner international backlash
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The Israeli assaults on UNIFIL forces positioned on the southern Lebanese border have sparked international condemnations, prompting international backlash.
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UN peacekeepers patrol on the Lebanese side of the Lebanese-Palestinian border in the southern village of Kfar Kila, with the Metula settlement in the background, Lebanon, Friday, Oct. 13, 2023. (AP)
The Israeli aggression targeting UNIFIL forces along the Palestinian-Lebanese border is a crime condemned by Lebanon, Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati declared on Friday.
"We adhere to our right and land, and have repeatedly affirmed our commitment to Resolution 1701 at international forums," Mikati stated, adding that Lebanon formally submitted a request asking the United Nations Security Council to issue a ceasefire resolution in Lebanon.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon reported that the Israeli forces stormed the UNIFIL base in al-Labbouneh on Thursday, and vandalized the area. The forces reportedly destroyed UNIFIL contents and energy generators, and fired shots inside the base.
Moreover, our correspondent reported that UNIFIL soldiers in Labbouneh base hid in shelters during an Israeli assault.
This follows recurrent assaults by Israeli forces on UNIFIL bases in South Lebanon.
Lebanese PM Mikati reiterated the need for a ceasefire and emphasized that the Lebanese Army must enforce its role in safeguarding and securing Lebanon's southern border.
In this context, Mikati mentioned receiving a phone call from Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who claimed the United States was "completely with Lebanon," adding that "there is a great effort to achieve a ceasefire."
He also called on "all officials and national forces to jointly bear the responsibility of steadfastness, rescue, and protection of our community and our country."
The interim prime minister also revealed that about 595 schools were accommodating forcibly displaced persons in various Lebanese regions, and that efforts are underway to prepare more shelters. He added that no cash assistance has arrived in Lebanon, and there will be full transparency regarding the mechanism for receiving and distributing aid.
Lebanon: Attacks on UNIFIL 'a dangerous precedent'
For its part, the Lebanese Foreign Ministry condemned the systematic and deliberate targeting of UNIFIL forces by the Israeli occupation army, stating that these repeated attacks reaffirm "Israel's" disregard for international legitimacy.
"These attacks cannot be separated from Israel's repeated and ongoing attempts to undermine UNIFIL's mission," the Foreign Ministry stated, stressing that they also cannot be dissociated from obstructing the annual renewal process of UNIFIL's mandate and the cancellation of the international mandate that it was granted.
The ministry called on the UN Security Council, the international community, and the countries contributing to UNIFIL's mission to initiate an investigation into the matter and take a firm and resolute stance against these assaults.
It also noted that failing to deter "Israel" and not putting an end to its violations will allow it to continue its attacks on UNIFIL and send a message that will have dangerous repercussions for United Nations peacekeeping missions around the world.
International condemnation
Russia
The Russian Foreign Ministry expressed its "anger over the Israeli shelling of UNIFIL in Lebanon" and called for an end to hostile actions against them.
Norway
The Norwegian Foreign Ministry also viewed the gunfire directed at UNIFIL by Israeli forces as "extremely dangerous."
Spain
In turn, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez urged the international community to stop selling arms to "Israel" and condemned the attacks carried out by Israeli forces on the United Nations mission in Lebanon.
China
China also expressed concerns and strong condemnation of Israeli attacks on UN peace operations, after peacekeepers said that Israeli forces fired on their headquarters in south Lebanon.
Referring to the the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon, Chinese foreign spokesperson, Mao Ning said "China expresses grave concern and strong condemnation over the Israeli Defense Forces' attack on UNIFIL positions and observation posts, which resulted in injuries to UNIFIL personnel."
UN Secretary-General Guterres
Similarly, UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the gunfire at the "UNIFIL" site, noting that "we have made it clear to Israel that this incident is intolerable," pointing out that the assault constitutes a violation of international law.
UNIFIL sites come under Israeli attack
Late on Thursday, the United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon (UNIFIL) reported that two of its soldiers were injured in South Lebanon after Israeli occupation forces opened fire on a UNIFIL observation post.
According to a statement issued by the UNIFIL, an Israeli occupation "Merkava tank fired its weapon toward an observation tower at UNIFIL’s headquarters in Naqoura." After the direct hit on the watchtower, "two peacekeepers were injured."
Moreover, the statement noted that the IOF "fired on UN position (UNP) 1-31 in Labbouneh, hitting the entrance to the bunker where peacekeepers were sheltering, and damaging vehicles and a communications system."
The statement also expressed that on October 9, the IOF "deliberately fired at and disabled the position’s perimeter-monitoring cameras" and also "deliberately fired on UNP 1-32A in Ras Naqoura, where regular Tripartite meetings were held before the conflict began, damaging lighting and a relay station."
