Israel’s military said its troops opened fire near a United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon (UNIFIL) base. The United Nations (UN) base is located in the area of Naqoura in southern Lebanon. Israeli forces say they instructed UN forces in the area to remain in protected spaces on Thursday morning.
It said in a statement that Hezbollah fighters operate from within and near civilian areas in southern Lebanon, including areas near UNIFIL posts.
The UNIFIL force said two of its peacekeepers were injured in an incident when an Israeli tank fired at a watchtower at the force’s main headquarters in Ras al-Naqoura, hitting the tower and causing them to fall. There were no casualties in two other incidents, a UN source said.
“The IDF is operating in southern Lebanon and maintains routine communication with UNIFIL,” the Israeli military added, using the acronym for Israel Defense Forces.
The conflict erupted one year ago when Hezbollah opened fire in support of Palestinian terror group Hamas at the start of the Gaza war. It has intensified dramatically in recent weeks, with Israel bombing Beirut’s southern suburbs, the south and the Bekaa Valley, before sending in ground forces.
Turkey condemns Israel’s attacks targeting the UN peacekeepers, its foreign ministry said late on Thursday. Adding that Ankara would continue supporting similar peacekeeping initiatives and structures.
Israeli attacks against UNIFIL in recent days, amid the war in Gaza and the cross-border clashes with Hezbollah terrorists in Lebanon, have wounded UN personnel and prompted international alarm.
In New York, Israel’s U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon said Israel recommends UNIFIL relocate north in Lebanon “to avoid danger as fighting intensifies”.
“Israel’s attacks on UN forces, following its massacres against civilians in Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon is a manifestation of its perception that its crimes go unpunished,” Turkey’s foreign ministry said in a statement.
“The international community is obliged to ensure that Israel abides by international law,” it said, adding that Turkey contributed to the UNIFIL Maritime Task Force with one corvette and five personnel.
Turkey has been fiercely critical of Israel’s offensives in Gaza and Lebanon. It has halted all trade with Israel, applied to join a genocide case against Israel at the World Court, and repeatedly called for an end to Western support of Israel along with international measures to stop its assaults.
Team Bharatshakti
(With inputs from Reuters)
