France’s strong condemnation of Israeli attacks on UN Peacekeepers in Lebanon

Israeli forces fired at the headquarters of the UN peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon for the 2nd time in two days on Friday, October eleven, injuring four peacekeepers.

Which is the first time peacekeepers from the UN mission, which became set up in 1978, have been injured or not it truly is because up to this point extend in tensions along the Blue Line that separates Israel and Lebanon.

UN forces appear to be caught right at some point of the guts of the growing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.

In up to this point days, the headquarters of the United Nations Intervening time Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in Naqoura, along with nearby positions, have come below attack.

Which is the first time UN peacekeepers, typically also is often called Blue Helmets, have been injured since tensions flared on both sides of the Blue Line, which separates Israel and Lebanon.

Earlier this morning, two peacekeepers were injured when an IDF Merkava tank fired at an observation tower at UNIFIL’s headquarters in Naqoura. The tank’s shot without delay hit the tower, causing it to supply way and injure the peacekeepers.”Thankfully, the injuries are now no longer serious this time, but the peacekeepers are still right at some point of the health facility,” said UNIFIL in a statement on Thursday, October tenth.

The UN also reported that Israeli soldiers had fired at any other UN position in Labbouneh, where Israeli forces are engaged in battling with Hezbollah.

On Wednesday, October Ninth, Israeli soldiers “intentionally fired at and destroyed the perimeter-monitoring cameras at the UN position.”

UNIFIL’s statement also mentioned that Israeli forces intentionally fired at UNP 1-32A in Ras Naqoura, where regular Tripartite meetings were held prior to the conflict started, damaging the lights and a relay station.

The statement in an identical fashion emphasized that any intentional attack on peacekeepers is a massive violation of international humanitarian law.

France, which has around 700 peacekeepers right at some point of the mission, released a statement expressing “deep concern” over the Israeli strikes that hit the United Nations Intervening time Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and strongly condemned any attack on UNIFIL’s safety, in line with reports from France24.

On the morning of Friday, October 11th, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) struck near UNIFIL’s headquarters in Naqoura, injuring two more peacekeepers. This befell only a day after they targeted the identical location.

Earlier at this time time, Friday, October 11th, IDF soldiers in southern Lebanon spotted an instantaneous threat against them.The soldiers responded by firing at the threat. An initial investigation shows that at some point of the incident, a UNIFIL post, located about 50 meters from the threat, became hit, causing injuries to two UNIFIL personnel,” the IDF wrote on X.

On Friday, October 11th, France announced that it had summoned the Israeli ambassador after explosions hit UNIFIL’s headquarters for the 2nd time in forty eight hours.

UNIFIL became created by the UN Security Council in March 1978 to lend a hand restore peace along the Israel-Lebanon border. It is because Israeli army withdrew from Lebanon in May 2000, UNIFIL has facilitated meetings between top Israeli and Lebanese officials to address reasonably a bunch border disputes, specifically after the July 2006 war.

UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti, based in Naqoura, told France24 that southern Lebanon had experienced one of its quietest periods from 2006 until October eight, 2023, when Hezbollah opened a “enhance front” for Hamas following the October 7 attacks.

The conflict between the Israeli army and the pro-Iranian Shiite group Hezbollah had remained relatively low-key until last month. However, it escalated sharply after Israel disrupted Hezbollah’s communication systems on September 17 and 18. Following this, Israel launched heavy airstrikes on southern Lebanon and parts of Beirut’s southern suburbs, intensifying the placement.

Small-Scale Ground Invasions

The conflict took a new turn on September 30 when the Israeli army stated it should perchance start carrying out “limited ground incursions” into Lebanon to target Hezbollah.

Israel also notified UNIFIL about its planned actions and requested them to depart their positions. In an identical fashion, prior to bombing residential areas, Israel warned civilians in both Gaza and Lebanon.

Tenenti stated, “The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) asked us to relocate from a ramification our positions with regards to the Blue Line.” This line, marked with blue barrels, became established in June 2000. UNIFIL operates 29 bases near the Blue Line with 2,000 peacekeepers stationed there.

Israeli soldiers first entered southern Lebanon on October 1, advancing towards the village of Maroun al-Ras, which is southeast of where UNIFIL’s Irish battalion became stationed. The Irish soldiers refused to depart their post, and later, Irish President Michael Higgins typically also is often called it “outrageous” that the Israeli Defence Forces had “threatened” the Irish peacekeepers.

Hezbollah claimed that the Israeli army became the use of the international peacekeeping force as a “human shield.” The pro-Iranian Shiite group urged its warring parties to hold back and now no longer respond to Israel’s movements across the southern border, to deal with to be sure the protection of UNIFIL soldiers.

Peacekeepers Restricted to Their Bases

Tenenti admitted that the Israeli actions “put our troops’ safety at risk.” However, he noted that the 50 countries contributing to UNIFIL have chosen to maintain their forces right at some point of the area, speaking just hours prior to the attack on Thursday, October tenth.

A UN source mentioned that UNIFIL will likely adapt to the changing conditions on the ground but intends to remain right at some point of the area, a lot like its decision to stay during the last major conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006.

France, Italy, Spain, and Ireland, the European countries contributing to UNIFIL, are scheduled to hold a gathering next week.

Per the UNIFIL spokesperson, it truly is miles a really important for the international community to maintain watch and ensure the UN flag remains to be present right at some point of the area.

He also said, “We should never be going to let other countries tell us what to do. Which is a decision for the United Nations to make.”

“We now have got made up our minds to stay, though monitoring the placement shall be very hard straight away. We can’t allow other countries to dictate what we should do,” he said.

The Blue Helmets are now restricted to their bases and haven’t conducted their regular joint patrols with the Lebanese army since September 30.

Lacking sufficient equipment, the Lebanese army has also pulled back from a number of its positions in southern Lebanon.

UNIFIL is specializing in the protection and protection of its 10,Five hundred personnel, including over 9,Five hundred soldiers. Despite being right at some point of the “relative” safety of their bases, they still maintain some surveillance abilities.

Tenenti explained that the mission can still “report to the Security Council on the placement,” including small print the image of the number of shots fired, caused by radars they have gotten within their bases.

Per France24, the force commander remains to be involved with both Israeli and Lebanese sides, working to complete the conflict and restore some stability in southern Lebanon.

Breaches of Resolution 1701

UNIFIL’s mandate is renewed yearly, and on August 28, the UN Security Council extended the mission for any other year.

The force is occasionally criticized for now no longer fully achieving its mission, especially the enforcement of Resolution 1701.

The Security Council unanimously adopted the resolution in 2006 as a portion of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon.

The resolution calls for Hezbollah to disarm and move its forces north of the Litani River, about 30 kilometers from the Blue Line. However, Hezbollah refused, pointing out that Israel still occupies a neighborhood of around 20 square kilometers.

Tenenti stated, “Resolution 1701 remains very relevant, but it needs commitment from both sides to be effective.”

He added, “The resolution hasn’t been implemented. We can lend a hand, but it’s up to them.” Meanwhile, UNIFIL remains to be caught right at some point of the guts of the clashes between the Israeli army and Hezbollah.

Tenenti wrapped up by saying, “We always have backup plans, but for now, we’re remaining.”