In a press statement, UNIFIL said that it is “deeply concerned about the numerous strikes targeting the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) within Lebanese territory, despite the LAF's declared non-involvement in the ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel.”
It considered that “such attacks on the Lebanese Armed Forces within Lebanese territory constitute a blatant violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701 and international humanitarian law, which prohibits the use of force against those not engaged in hostilities.“
“The role of the LAF remains crucial for the full implementation of Resolution 1701 (2006), which is essential to end the ongoing violence between Hezbollah and Israel,” UNIFIL affirmed.
The statement expressed “grave concern about the escalating hostilities, the widespread destruction, and the loss of life along the Blue Line.”
It cited the LAF, who has reported “a series of Israeli strikes in recent weeks, resulting in the loss of personnel, damage to buildings, and destruction of property. These attacks have claimed the lives of 45 Lebanese soldiers.”
“We urge all parties involved in the conflict to address their disputes through negotiations rather than violence,” the statement added.
“On behalf of the entire UNIFIL family, Head of Mission and Force Commander Major General Aroldo Lázaro expressed his deepest condolences to the families of the deceased and wished a swift and full recovery to the injured,” the statement concluded.
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