France and Italy will convene the European countries contributing to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) following shots fired by an Israeli tank at its headquarters, injuring two Indonesian peacekeepers, the French Ministry of Armed Forces announced on Thursday.
This videoconference meeting, decided during a conversation between French Minister Sébastien Lecornu and his Italian counterpart Guido Crosetto, will take place next week, with the exact date to be determined. In addition to France and Italy, Spain and Ireland are the other European contributors to UNIFIL.
Meanwhile, Defense Minister Crosetto summoned the Israeli ambassador to Rome following shots fired at an observation tower at the peacekeepers’ headquarters, according to AFP, citing official Italian sources.
The shots targeting the peacekeepers have raised concerns in Rome, which has 900 soldiers within the international force, making it UNIFIL’s largest personnel contributor.
In a statement, UNIFIL condemned a series of “deliberate attacks.” “This morning, two peacekeepers were injured after a Merkava tank from the Israeli army fired on an observation tower at our headquarters in Naqoura, hitting it directly and causing the soldiers stationed there to fall. Fortunately, the injuries were not serious, but the soldiers remain hospitalized,” confirmed UNIFIL.
“Any deliberate attack against our forces constitutes a serious violation of international humanitarian law and UN Security Council Resolution 1701,” which ended the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah, it warned.
The peacekeeping force also denounced “the recent Israeli escalation along the Blue Line,” highlighting that “UNIFIL positions and neighboring localities have been repeatedly shelled.”
Israeli soldiers “fired on a UN position in Ras Naqoura, hitting the entrance to the barracks where the peacekeepers were sheltering. The communication system and some vehicles were damaged. An Israeli drone was also seen flying inside the UN position up to the entrance of the barracks,” the statement added.
UNIFIL emphasized “the obligation to ensure the safety of UNIFIL personnel and property and to respect the inviolability of their premises at all times.” “The peacekeepers are in South Lebanon to support the restoration of stability under a Security Council mandate,” UNIFIL continued, noting that contacts have been made with the Israeli army regarding this issue.
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