THE United Nations peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon confirms that its headquarters in Naqoura was hit by explosions for the second time in 48 hours, a day after Israeli forces struck the same position.
Two peacekeepers from the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) were injured after two explosions occurred close to an observation tower, the UN mission said in a statement on Friday.
“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,” it added.
“Any deliberate attack on peacekeepers is a grave violation of international humanitarian law.”
One of the injured peacekeepers was taken to a hospital in the nearby city of Tyre, while the other was treated at the site.
The organisation also said “several T-walls at our UN position 1-31, near the Blue Line in Labbouneh, fell when an [Israeli military] caterpillar hit the perimeter and [Israeli] tanks moved in the proximity of the UN position”, referring to the demarcation line between Israel and Lebanon.
“Our peacekeepers remained at the location”, it said, adding that additional peacekeepers were sent to reinforce the position.
The Israeli military said in a statement it is conducting a thorough review of the incident where two peacekeepers were “inadvertently” hurt in southern Lebanon. It later said two personnel with the UN peacekeeping mission were wounded when Israeli forces responded to a threat.
It said it had instructed UNIFIL personnel to go to protected areas and remain there hours before the incident.
Lebanon’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs earlier said the attacks were on watchtowers and the main UNIFIL base in Naqoura and on the Sri Lankan battalion’s base.
