"The Israeli Army's targeting of UNIFIL forces was deliberate, unlike what Israeli officials are saying," UNIFIL spokesperson in Lebanon Andrea Tenenti confirmed on Friday, stressing that "Israel" targeted the forces several times, five of which were intentional. 

According to Tenenti, the watchtower in Naqoura was directly targeted, resulting in the injury of two peacekeeping forces. The IOF also targeted the communication systems and cameras, and entered one of UNIFIL's locations a few days ago, staying there for 45 minutes.

All of these incidents were deliberate, Tenenti added, emphasizing that not only do they violate resolution 1701, but international law as well.

In a press conference of UN journalists in Geneva, the spokesperson revealed that peacekeeping forces are forced to stay in shelters for long durations due to the violent bombing.

"The Israeli side requested that we move from some positions along the Blue Line. We have about 29 sites very close to the Blue Line, within a distance of 5 km, but we decided not to move because it is important for the United Nations flag to remain raised there. We are at these locations at the request of the Security Council and the international community," he said.

He further stressed that UNIFIL needs to remain in Lebanon, and "the morale of the peacekeeping forces is still very high."

“We believe that we are here for a reason and like any other military unit we try to lift each other’s spirits,” @UNIFIL_ peacekeeper in southern #Lebanon says, reflecting on the challenges posed by ongoing hostilities in the region

Related story ⤵️https://t.co/qlqzOBIhIx pic.twitter.com/nNcnZEVCxB

— UN News (@UN_News_Centre) October 17, 2024

He also revealed that UNIFIL forces found traces of potential white phosphorus use near one of their bases in Lebanon several months ago.

On another note, Tenenti described the situation of Lebanese residents in southern Lebanon as "extremely tragic". He noted that about 450,000 people have migrated to the north, most of the villages along the Blue Line have been completely destroyed, and severe damage has brought ruin to entire southern villages.

He emphasized that delivering aid to these villages has become an urgent matter and a major challenge due to ongoing bombings and airstrikes targeting villages in the south, and "because we often do not receive guarantees against the targeting of aid convoys, which significantly limits our ability to coordinate with humanitarian organizations."

EU, GCC voice concerns about 'Israel' attacks on UNIFIL

The European Union (EU) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) issued a joint statement on Wednesday, condemning recent Israeli attacks on UN peacekeepers in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and expressing grave concerns about escalating violence in light of the Israeli onslaught on Lebanon.

"We are extremely concerned by the dangerous escalation in Lebanon and affirm our support for the Lebanese people," said the EU and GCC, following their first summit in Brussels. The statement saw the two blocs condemn any attacks on UN personnel, though it expressed "particularly grave concerns" over the recent attacks on UN peacekeepers in Lebanon.

In one of the latest acts of aggression against the UNIFIL, Israeli tanks made an incursion into one of the peacekeepers' positions after having fired at them earlier in the week and used them as human shields against the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon.

On Wednesday, UN troops in Lebanon reported that Israeli occupation forces (IOF) shot at one of their locations in South Lebanon.

Peacekeepers in the southern town of Kfar Kila saw an IOF tank "firing at their watchtower," UNIFIL stated, adding that "two cameras were destroyed, and the tower was damaged" in what the force described as "direct and apparently deliberate fire on a UNIFIL position."

 Read more: Israeli attacks against UNIFIL garner international backlash