The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) believes that the recent Israeli attacks on its positions have been “deliberate,” the spokesman for the peacekeepers, Andrea Tenenti, told RT on Friday. The force faced a total of four attacks over the last two days that resulted in four injuries, the official said.
At least three attacks were confirmed as having been launched by Israel, Teneti said, adding that the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) targeted the mission’s communication systems, cameras and a watchtower located within its HQ premises in southern Lebanon.
One of the attacks that involved a Merkava tank firing at a watchtower in the border area town of Naqoura left to Indonesian peacekeepers injured. It sparked international outrage as Indonesia and other nations, including Russia, Italy, France, Spain, Ireland, Türkiye, and Canada condemned the IDF actions. Washington also said that it was “deeply concerned” by reports about the incident.
When asked by RT, whether UNIFIL considers the attacks on its positions accidental or deliberate, Teneti said that the mission was pretty sure it was the latter. “Yesterday, three attacks were very much considered… deliberate attacks,” the spokesman said, calling the development “very concerning.”
According to the official, the Israeli military also asked the peacekeepers to leave some of their positions in southern Lebanon prior to the attacks. “We decided to stay because it is important for the UN flag to fly in the area, where we have been mandated by the UN Security Council,” Teneti added.
The UNFIL spokesman also said that there was one more attack on the mission positions on Friday. The UNFIL “can still not attribute responsibility as we’re looking into it,” he said, adding that the attack resulted in two more peacekeepers being injured, with one of them sustaining serious wounds.
The official also expressed his concerns over what he called the “tragic developments” linked to the rapid escalation between Israel and the Lebanon-based Hezbollah movement over the past months. “Thousands of people have been killed. In the last months, more people have been killed than in the conflict in 2006,” he said, referring to the 34-day armed conflict also known as the July War or the Second Lebanon War.
Israel confirmed that its troops opened fire near a UNIFIL base after instructing UN forces in the area to take cover. The IDF claimed that Hezbollah fighters had been operating in the region from within and near civilian areas as well as UNFIL positions.