Countries participating in the UN mission in Lebanon condemned the recent attacks on peacekeepers in a statement and demanded that they stop immediately.
The statement, initiated on Saturday by Poland’s representative to the United Nations and signed by 40 countries, notes that the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) aims to “bring stabilization and lasting peace to southern Lebanon and the Central -East. “
UNIFIL’s role is “particularly crucial in light of the escalating situation in the region”, it added.
The declaration is signed by Britain, France, Italy, Spain and China, among others, while Germany added the name later.
Israel and the Lebanese Hezbollah militia have exchanged heavy fire in the border area since the start of the Gaza war a year ago.
The UN observer mission is monitoring the area, with 10,000 soldiers from about 50 countries. UN soldiers have been killed and injured in several attacks in recent days.
The parties to the conflict must respect the presence of the so-called “Blue Helmets” and guarantee their safety at all times, the statement’s signatories said, adding that the attacks “must be adequately investigated.”
Two peacekeepers were injured on Friday when two explosions occurred near an observation post at UNIFIL headquarters, according to the UN. Later that day, another UN peacekeeper was injured by gunfire at the force’s headquarters.
The day before, Israeli forces reportedly fired on the headquarters, wounding at least two soldiers.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin expressed his “deep concern” about the attacks in a telephone conversation with his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant, according to the Pentagon.
According to the US Department of Defense, Gallant repeated Israel’s accusations that Hezbollah is using the areas around UNIFIL bases for its own purposes.
He also assured Austin that the military would try not to harm UNIFIL forces and bases.