UN says IDF fired at Lebanon post
UN peacekeepers said on October 25th that Israeli soldiers had fired at one of their observation posts in southern Lebanon this week, according to the Arab News via AFP.
“IDF soldiers fired at” an observation post near the border village of Dhayra on October 22nd, a statement from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, or UNIFIL, said, adding “the duty guards withdrew to avoid being shot.”
It also reported three incident of unidentified fire impacting UNFIL positions, team and vehicles in the last week, adding that there were no peacekeepers hurt but that the situation was “extremely challenging.”
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“Since early October, peacekeepers have observed clashes on the ground in or around” a dozen south Lebanon villages and towns, UNIFIL stated, adding that “rocket fire from Lebanon and heavy air and artillery strikes from Israel have continued.”
Israel’s military “has repeatedly demanded that UNIFIL vacate its positions… and has deliberately damaged camera, lighting, and communications equipment” at some positions, UNIFIL added. “Despite the pressure being exerted on the mission and our troop-contributing countries, peacekeepers remain in position and on task… All actors are reminded of their obligation to avoid actions putting peacekeepers or civilians in danger.”
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The attack is one of many that Israel has carried out on UN targets in Lebanon in recent weeks – Israel was accused of deliberately firing at UNIFIL watchtowers on October 10th, according to The Guardian. On October 25th, UNIFIL said two Indonesian peacekeepers who were hit on October 10th were back on duty after spending three days in intensive care.
UNIFIL was originally set up back in 1978 to monitor Israeli forces’ withdrawal from Lebanon. The organisation has around 10,000 peacekeepers from 50 countries deployed in the south of Lebanon.
Reuters, The Guardian