electra-supply.comOn October 13, reports from Lebanon’s National News Agency indicated that Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon have completely destroyed a mosque that has stood for a century. This incident comes amidst growing tensions in the region, particularly following an attack on the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which involves troops from 40 nations.
In response to the escalating violence, 40 countries released a joint statement on October 12, condemning the actions of the Israeli military, accusing them of deliberately opening fire. The statement, initiated by Poland and supported by nations such as China, the UK, France, Germany, Spain, India, Brazil, and South Korea, underscored their full support for UNIFIL’s mission. It aims to promote stability and lasting peace in southern Lebanon and the broader Middle East. As tensions rise, the role of UNIFIL is becoming increasingly important, with a call for all parties to respect its presence and ensure the safety of its personnel to fulfill their peacekeeping responsibilities.
The joint statement reiterated the commitment of these nations to engage in multilateral cooperation with the United Nations and urged respect for international law, particularly the UN Charter and relevant Security Council resolutions. UNIFIL’s mission is to monitor the ceasefire following a 33-day war between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006, based on Resolution 1701 passed by the Security Council, stipulating that only UN peacekeeping forces and the Lebanese army should be stationed in the region.
On October 12, UNIFIL reported that its headquarters in Naqura was again attacked, with one peacekeeping personnel injured in gunfire on the evening of October 11. This brought the total number of injured UN personnel to five since October 10. A UN post in southern Lebanon also suffered substantial damage due to explosions caused by nearby shelling, although the statement did not specify which party was responsible.
Additionally, two Sri Lankan peacekeepers were injured during the attack in Naqura on October 11. In response, the Israeli military claimed they only fired in self-defense upon detecting a threat and promised to conduct an investigation. On October 10, Israeli tanks fired at a lookout tower at UNIFIL’s Naqura headquarters, injuring two Indonesian peacekeepers. The United Nations representatives indicated that the Israeli military actions seemed intentional.
UNIFIL has accused the Israeli military of targeting them and warned that the escalating offensive against Hezbollah could quickly escalate into a regional conflict with catastrophic consequences. Their spokesperson expressed concerns that such attacks severely violate international humanitarian law.
U.S. President Joe Biden has firmly urged Israel to cease its attacks on peacekeepers. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin recently contacted Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant to express deep concern over the military’s actions against UNIFIL positions and to advocate for the safety of both peacekeeping forces and the Lebanese military. Gallant responded by asserting that the Israeli military aims to avoid harming peacekeepers and their installations.
Several southern European nations voiced their disapproval of the attacks on UNIFIL, stating it violates Security Council resolutions. On the same day, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez issued a joint statement expressing outrage over the Israeli military’s assaults on peacekeeping forces. The German Foreign Ministry also condemned Israel’s actions as unacceptable, and Pope Francis called for respect for UNIFIL’s mission on October 13.
