UN Peacekeepers Attacked Again By Israeli Forces in Southern Lebanon
Introduction
The role of UN peacekeepers has once more been put up into the light with the ongoing conflict between Israel and Lebanon. The latest events in Southern Lebanon have prompted serious worries about the safety and security of the United Nations personnel in the area. This is not the first attack of its kind, but rather part of a disturbing trend that jeopardises UNIFIL’s very mission.
Attacks Targeting UNIFIL’s HQ in Naqoura
This is the second attack on UNIFIL’s headquarters in Naqoura in just 48 hours. The latest comes after two Indonesian UN peacekeepers were injured amid growing tensions.
For the second time, explosions struck UNIFIL headquarters, which Israel forces had hit a short time earlier, the UN force for southern Lebanon confirmed.
A statement released by the UN mission said two UN peacekeepers were injured after two explosions near an observation tower.
Source: PBS News Hour
This illustrates the deadly nature of the conflict in Southern Lebanon, and the seriousness of the risks that UN peacekeepers face day to day on their mission to sustain peace and stability in that region.
UNIFIL’s statement emphasised: “This is a serious development, and UNIFIL reiterates that the safety and security of UN personnel and property must be guaranteed, and that the inviolability of UN premises must be respected at all times.”
Global leaders and organisations have all spoken out about the fact that the deliberate targeting of UN peacekeepers violates international humanitarian law.
Injuries and Damages in Naqoura
One of the injured UN peacekeepers was rushed to a hospital in Tyre and another received treatment at the site. In addition, a UN mission reported that several T walls in its UN position 1_31 near the Blue Line in Labbouneh collapsed when an Israeli military caterpillar hit the perimeter.
Source: CBS News
The safety of the peacekeepers was already endangered as Israeli tanks moved as close as they could to the UN position. That did not dissuade UNIFIL’s peacekeepers from staying at their posts and upholding their mission.
The arrival of additional peacekeepers helped reinforce the position, and made their presence along the traditionally tense border all the more crucial.
Israeli Military’s Response To The Attack on UN Peacekeepers
The IDF has responded to these incidents by stating that the injuries to the UN peacekeepers were “inadvertent” and occurred as a result of Israeli forces responding to a threat in Southern Lebanon.
Hours earlier the Israeli military said it had instructed UNIFIL personnel what to do and where to go in case of protected areas.
But this, along with other explanations, have failed to assuage a growing unease and world outrage that the UN peacekeepers are safe.
Lebanon’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the attacks, saying the strikes had hit watchtowers, the main UNIFIL base in Naqoura and a base of the Sri Lankan battalion.
Israeli artillery from a Merkava tank also injured members of a Sri Lankan battalion, the Lebanese National News Agency also reported.
Global Condemnation and Lebanon’s Reaction
Officials in Lebanon have been quick to condemn the attacks on UN peacekeepers. Prime Minister Najib Mikati denounced Israel’s actions as a “crime,” calling for an immediate ceasefire and expressing his concerns during discussions with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
Lebanon’s Hezbollah, a major force in the country, condemned the attacks, accusing Israeli forces of attacking the UN peacekeepers and civilians, hospitals and residential areas.
The Israeli military’s explanations that the areas struck contained weapons and explosives were dismissed by the group’s media chief Mohammed Afif.
The response has been swift and unequivocal globally. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated that the incident was “intolerable and cannot be repeated.” Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it was furious and called for Israel to halt further hostile actions against UN peacekeepers.
Moreover, Human Rights Watch urged an independent UN inquiry into the deliberate targeting of UN missions as a war crime. Lama Fakih, Their Middle East and North Africa Director, said UN peacekeepers have a vital role to play in civilian protection and humanitarian work in Southern Lebanon.
“The UN condemns any targeting by Israeli forces of UN peacekeepers, or that endangers UNIFIL civilian protection and humanitarian aid operations.” Human Rights Watch stated.
International Responses and Calls for Action
International support continues to pile up in favour of UN peacekeepers, demanding to hold perpetrators accountable and stop attacks. India condemned Israel’s action and pointed to the need to respect the inviolability of UN premises, as did China.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs called for suitable measures to ensure the security of peacekeepers. Israel’s ambassador was summoned by France, which has some 700 troops on UNIFIL, or the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon.
France’s Foreign Ministry, in a statement, said the attacks violate international law and must stop immediately, “None of France’s troops have been injured so far, but continued assaults on peacekeepers constitute a serious threat to all participating countries.”
History of UN Peacekeepers Being Attacked
This is not the first time UN peacekeepers in Southern Lebanon have come under fire. UNIFIL positions have been attacked on several occasions in clashes between Israeli forces and Hezbollah fighters in recent years.
The UN peacekeepers frequently have been caught in the middle of violence along the Blue Line, the demarcation line between Israel and Lebanon. The attack on Friday marked the second time in as many days that UN peacekeepers were targeted in the east of the country.
Two Indonesian peacekeepers were reportedly injured on Thursday when Israeli forces fired at UNIFIL headquarters, Indonesian and UN officials said. The attack provoked a global condemnation from leaders and human rights organisations.
Assault on UN Peacekeepers: A Serious Violation
The “Blue Helmets”, as UN peacekeepers are often called, are clearly identifiable due to their distinctive helmets and uniforms. The Israeli military is well aware of where these forces are positioned, and the repeated targeting of these forces is all the more worrying.
Israel acknowledged that its forces had opened fire in the area, saying Hezbollah fighters were operating close to UN posts and that finding peacekeepers in those hard to dig was a coincidence, but the deliberate targeting of UN peacekeepers marked a major breach of international humanitarian law.
Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto went so far as to call the attacks ‘a possible war crime’. ‘Italy, a strong supporter of Israel throughout the conflict, is dismayed at this latest development,’ a statement said, speaking for the first time in such terms. “This was not a mistake and not an accident,” Crosetto said. “It could constitute a war crime and represents a very serious violation of international humanitarian law.”
The Future of UN Peacekeeping in Southern Lebanon
Repeated attacks on UN peacekeepers in Southern Lebanon are bringing into question the future of UNIFIL’s mission in the region.
Tensions continue on the rise and peacekeepers feel less and less safe. Yet UNIFIL is adamant it will continue its mandate, insisting that both its staff and peacekeeping troops remain on the ground to oversee the situation and offer humanitarian aid.
‘For UNIFIL, the UN flag must fly high in southern Lebanon, even in the face of risk, for our peacekeepers to stay true to their mandate,’ Andrea Tenenti, the UNIFIL spokesman who spoke on Thursday, said.
The back to back attacks by Israeli forces on UN peacekeepers has received global condemnation and the world leaders have reaffirmed their backing for the UN peacekeepers and called for immediate action to protect them.
Wrapping It Up
The attacks on UN peacekeepers in Southern Lebanon are a dangerous escalation in the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. These actions have been condemned across the international community as violations of international law, and recourse for sanctions is being called for immediately. Safety of the UN peacekeepers will remain important to global leaders as the situation progresses and measures need to be taken to ensure their protection for the mission to go on.
Frequently Asked Questions
What role do UN Peacekeepers play in Southern Lebanon?
UN Peacekeepers, particularly through the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), play a critical role in maintaining peace and stability in the region.
Their mission is to monitor the cessation of hostilities between Israel and Lebanon, support the Lebanese armed forces in ensuring security, and provide humanitarian assistance.
However, repeated attacks on UN peacekeepers have raised concerns about their safety and ability to continue their mandate.
What happened during the recent attacks on UNIFIL’s headquarters in Naqoura?
UNIFIL’s headquarters in Naqoura has been targeted twice in just 48 hours, with explosions injuring two Indonesian peacekeepers. The attacks occurred close to an observation tower, and UN personnel were injured during these strikes.
Israel’s military acknowledged the incidents, stating the peacekeepers were inadvertently hurt as Israeli forces responded to a threat in Southern Lebanon. These attacks have sparked global condemnation and raised serious concerns about the safety of UN peacekeepers.
How has the international community responded to these attacks on UN peacekeepers?
The international community, including the United Nations, world leaders, and various human rights organizations, have strongly condemned the attacks on UN peacekeepers.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated that such incidents are intolerable, while Human Rights Watch called for an independent UN inquiry, labeling the targeting of peacekeepers as a war crime.
Countries like Russia, India, China, and France have demanded an immediate halt to such hostile actions and have called for accountability.
What are the implications of these attacks on the UNIFIL mission?
The repeated targeting of UN peacekeepers in Southern Lebanon is causing concerns about the future of the UNIFIL mission. Despite these attacks, UNIFIL remains committed to its mandate.
However, escalating tensions in the region, combined with the risks faced by peacekeepers, are challenging the sustainability of the mission. Several leaders have called for increased protection for the peacekeepers, while international efforts are underway to prevent further assaults on the “Blue Helmets.”
Why are these attacks considered a violation of international humanitarian law?
Deliberate attacks on UN peacekeepers, as seen in these incidents, constitute a grave violation of international humanitarian law. UN peacekeepers are clearly identifiable with their distinct blue helmets and positions known to all parties involved in the conflict.
The intentional targeting of these forces not only endangers their lives but also undermines the humanitarian and civilian protection work they are mandated to perform.
