The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) denounced this Wednesday a new attack by Israel against one of its positions in southern Lebanon. The UN has not reported any injuries.
“This morning, peacekeepers in a position near Kafer Kela observed an Israel Defense Forces tank firing at one of their observation towers,” the UN peacekeeping mission said in a statement. “Two chambers have been destroyed and the tower has been damaged.”
“Once again, we see direct and apparently deliberate fire against a UNIFIL position,” the statement said. “We remind the Israel Defense Forces and all actors of their obligations to ensure the safety of UN personnel, their property and to respect the inviolability of UN facilities at all times.”
In recent days, Israel has launched several attacks against positions of the UN peacekeeping mission, causing several injuries, entering its bases and even demolishing its walls using military bulldozers.
The Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, and her European counterparts held a meeting this Wednesday to analyze the peace mission and have expressed their “firm determination” to continue with an operation that they consider “pertinent and necessary”, while at the same time they have demanded an immediate ceasefire.
The ministers have noted that the mission plays a “key role” in the stability of the area despite requests from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asking the soldiers to withdraw. This Wednesday, Israel once again said that UNIFIL provides Hezbollah with human shields.
“We have met to highlight all the concern we have at this moment about the situation of UNIFIL in Lebanon. We have been very clear in saying that it is essential and fundamental that this mission continues to comply with the United Nations Resolution,” said Robles.
UNIFIL was established in 1978 to restore peace in southern Lebanon and has 10,000 peacekeepers from 50 nationalities, including 16 European countries.
Source: www.eldiario.es
