Two UN peacekeepers were injured by an Israeli attack near their watchtower in southern Lebanon, the Israeli army said, as explosions rocked the main peacekeepers base in the area for the second time in 48 hours while Israeli forces fought against Hezbollah.
The UNIFIL force said Friday’s incident constituted a “serious development” and that the safety of UN personnel and property must be guaranteed.
France summoned the Israeli ambassador and issued a joint statement with Italy and Spain saying such attacks were “unjustifiable”. US President Joe Biden said he is asking Israel not to strike UNIFIL forces. Russia said it was “outraged” and asked Israel to refrain from “hostile actions” against the peacekeepers.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had previously condemned the attacks on UN staff.
The Israeli army expressed “deep concern” and said two peacekeepers were wounded by Israeli fire as it engaged Hezbollah. He said they were warned hours before taking cover. The United Nations said both were from Sri Lanka.
The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah erupted a year ago when began firing rockets into northern Israel in support of the Palestinian militant group Hamas at the start of the Gaza war.
It has intensified in recent weeks, with Israeli bombing of southern Lebanon, Beirut’s southern suburbs and the Bekaa Valley. and sending ground troops across the border. Hezbollah, for its part, has fired rockets deeper into Israel.
said caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati. The Lebanese army said two soldiers were killed and three wounded when Israeli forces attacked one of its military positions in Kafra in the south.
Israel says its campaign in Lebanon aims to secure northern Israel by Hezbollah rocket fire.
Its expanded operations have displaced more than 1.2 million people, according to the Lebanese government, which says more than 2,100 people have been killed and more than 10,000 injured in more than a year of fighting. The count does not distinguish between civilians and combatants, but includes dozens of women and children.
According to Israeli authorities, Hezbollah rockets have killed at least 54 people in Israel, more than half of them civilians.