UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the explosion that injured three UN military observers and a Lebanese interpreter when an artillery shell exploded nearby while they were patrolling Lebanon’s southern border.
The explosion came amid escalating clashes between Israeli forces and Hezbollah militants in recent weeks.
Since the outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, there have been ongoing gun battles on both sides.
“Three military observers and a Lebanese language aide patrolling on foot along the Blue Line were injured in an explosion near the scene,” the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) said. Spokesperson Andrea Tenenti said in a statement. Saturday.
The injured “were evacuated for treatment,” Tenenti added.
UNIFIL peacekeepers patrol the so-called Blue Line, the border demarcated by the United Nations when Israeli forces withdrew from southern Lebanon in 2000.
Untso supports peacekeeping operations.
Norway’s Ministry of Defense said a Norwegian UN observer suffered “minor injuries” and was hospitalized.
“The circumstances surrounding the attack are unclear,” Defense Ministry spokesperson Hanne Olafsen told Norwegian news agency NTB.
Tennenti told AFP that the other two observers were from Australia and Chile, adding that all four injured were in “stable” condition, but Australia’s Ministry of Defense said the Australian’s injuries were not considered life-threatening. He said there were no special complaints.
Local Lebanese media reported, citing security officials, that an Israeli drone attack targeted guards in the southern village of Wadi Khatmun, near the border town of Rumeich.
However, the Israeli military posted: Social media platform: “Contrary to reports, the IDF did not attack @UNIFIL vehicles in the Rumeish area this morning.”
Mr Tenenti said UNIFIL had notified all warring parties of the patrols as usual and that the observers’ vehicles had clear UN markings. The three military observers were reportedly unarmed.
UNIFIL was “investigating the cause of the explosion,” Tennenti added, but the ongoing gunfire made it difficult to get investigators to the ground immediately.
“The safety and security of UN personnel must be guaranteed,” Tennenti said, adding: “I urge all parties to call off the current intense gunfight before more people are needlessly injured.” I asked for it.
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Antonio Guterres condemned the explosion and expressed “grave concern” over the daily exchange of fire between Lebanese militants and Israeli forces. said.
“These hostile acts have not only disrupted the lives of thousands of people, but also pose a serious threat to the security and stability of Lebanon, Israel and the region,” Dujarric said.
Mr. Dujarric said Mr. Guterres urged all action to refrain from further violations of the 2006 cessation of hostilities and “to seek a diplomatic solution to the crisis,” adding that the UN Secretary-General stands ready to support such efforts. He added that there is.
Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati also condemned the incident in a statement.
Unifil was created to oversee the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon after the 1978 Israeli invasion.
After the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah, the United Nations expands its mission and peacekeepers are deployed along the Israeli border to help extend the Lebanese army’s authority into southern Lebanon for the first time in decades. admitted that.
In collaboration with Associated Press, Australian Associated Press, and Agence France-Presse
