UN peacekeeper injured in Lebanon shooting
United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) announced that one of its peacekeepers was injured at the headquarters in Naqoura due to gunfire related to ongoing military operations. The injured soldier underwent surgery at the mission's hospital in Naqoura to remove a bullet and is currently in stable condition.
UNIFIL reported significant damage to buildings at its site in Ramiah, following explosions caused by nearby shelling on Saturday night. The peacekeeping force emphasized the importance of ensuring the safety and security of UN personnel and facilities, which includes avoiding combat activities near UNIFIL locations.
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Earlier, on Friday, UNIFIL released a statement regarding incidents involving Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) near the Blue Line in al-Labouna. The statement detailed that several walls at UNIFIL’s Site 1-31 collapsed after 'Israeli' bulldozers shelled the area surrounding the site, and tanks moved close to the UN facility. Peacekeepers remained at the site, and a rapid response unit was dispatched to assist and reinforce the location.
UNIFIL stressed that these incidents put its peacekeepers, operating in southern Lebanon under Security Council Resolution 1701 (2006), in grave danger. The mission characterized these developments as serious and reiterated the necessity of ensuring the safety and security of UN staff and property, as well as respecting the sanctity of UN buildings at all times. Any deliberate attack on peacekeepers constitutes a serious violation of international humanitarian law and Security Council Resolution 1701 (2006).
