Rocket launched near UNIFIL peacekeeper post in Lebanon
The ongoing conflict between Hezbollah in Lebanon and Israel has thrown the spotlight on the so called peace-keepers role in the south of Lebanon, the UN itself.
On August 25th, one of the rockets launched from Lebanon in the exchange between Hezbollah and the Israeli military was fired near an international peacekeeper post, according to Asharq Al-Awsat and agencies,
The U.N. peacekeeping force for Lebanon (UNIFIL) reported a significant number of airstrikes and rocket launches within its area of operations. According to UNIFIL spokesperson Kandice Ardiel, one of these rocket launches was detected at a UNIFIL position in Hanniyeh.
Later in the day, another explosion occurred near one of UNIFIL’s positions in Mays al-Jabal. Fortunately, it caused no damage or casualties.
Read: Hezbollah threatens to attack Israel as more civilians die
Ardiel emphasized that everyone launching attacks near UNIFIL positions should launch attacks across the Blue Line, because “targeting that puts peacekeepers in danger is unacceptable and a violation of Resolution 1701.”
The Blue Line is a UN-drawn separation between Lebanon and Israel, whereas U.N. resolution 1701 ended the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah and tasked UNIFIL with ensuring that its area of operations is not utilized for hostile activities.
On August 25th, Hezbollah fired rockets and drones at Israel in retaliation for the killing of commander Fuad Shukr by Israel. Israeli jets targeted 40 launch sites in Lebanon.
Asharq Al-Awsat and agencies
