Two ‘blue helmets’ injured in Israeli attack on UN headquarters in Lebanon. international

Israeli forces have “repeatedly attacked” the headquarters of blue helmet and the situation around it in southern Lebanon over the past 24 hours, including a tank shot that hit an observation tower and injured two soldiers. In addition, Israeli soldiers “deliberately” fired on surveillance cameras on the perimeter of the position until they became useless, as announced this Thursday by the mission, which houses hundreds of Spanish soldiers. The Spanish government has assured that everyone is fine, has “strongly” condemned the shootings and stressed that attacking troops on a peacekeeping mission is a “very serious violation” of international law. Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto urgently called the Israeli ambassador in Rome this Thursday.

The most serious incident happened this morning. Israeli forces fired a tank shell at a watchtower at the main base in Naqqrah, which was used to monitor compliance with the UN resolution that ended the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah. The headquarters is in south-western Lebanon, right next to the border line with Israel. This is precisely the area where Israeli troops entered this Tuesday and completed the offensive across the entire south of the country.

“The headquarters of UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force for Lebanon) in Nakura and surrounding areas have been repeatedly attacked. This morning, two peacekeepers were injured when an Israel Defense Forces Merkava tank fired on an observation tower at the headquarters, which directly hit the tower and caused them to fall. Fortunately, this time the injuries are not serious, but they are hospitalised,” the mission said in a statement.

The mission, led by Spanish Lieutenant General Aroldo Lázaro, reports two other incidents. One, against a position in Laboune near the headquarters, “reaching the entrance to the bunker where the peacekeepers were taking refuge, and damaging vehicles and communications systems. An Israel Defense Forces drone was seen flying over the entrance to the bunker inside the UN position. Also on Tuesday, Israeli Defense Forces soldiers “deliberately fired at surveillance cameras on the perimeter of the position and rendered them useless.”

trilateral meeting place

UNIFIL condemned another “deliberate” attack, including firing against a position at Ras Nakura (on the Blue Line, which marks the unofficial dividing line between the two countries), where “regular trilateral meetings were held before the conflict began.” Due to which the lighting system was damaged.” Relay station.”

“We remind the Israel Defense Forces and all actors of their obligation to ensure the security of UN personnel and property and to respect the inviolability of UN facilities at all times. UNIFIL peacekeepers are present in southern Lebanon to support the return of stability under the mandate of the (United Nations) Security Council. Any deliberate attack against peacekeepers is a grave violation of international humanitarian law and Security Council Resolution 1701. “We are following these matters with the Israel Defense Forces,” he stressed.

These incidents took place in the western sector, where some Spanish soldiers are also present. However, the vast majority is in the east, which is occupied by Spain and founded by Miguel de Cervantes. Although with fewer troops than before, it is still the largest mission blue helmet Spaniards in the world. After the attack, the Defense Ministry has indicated that no Spanish soldier was injured. Shortly afterwards, Foreign Affairs “strongly” condemned what happened and stressed that it was a “very serious violation” of international humanitarian law.

The eastern sector is where the bulk of the Italian contingent deployed to Lebanon (1,200 soldiers) is located. “Minister Guido Crosetto urgently called the Israeli ambassador to Italy regarding the incidents that took place at UNIFIL bases, where Italian personnel work,” said sources in that country’s Defense Ministry. At the meeting, Crosetto told Ambassador Jonathan Peled that “what is happening towards the detachments, headquarters and Italian bases in southern Lebanon is unacceptable.” Rome reported that both blue helmet The injured are not Italians.

The mission, which has about 10,000 troops from 47 countries, was already warning about the proximity of Israeli military activities “immediately adjacent” to one of its positions, in Maroun al Ras, in the western region. Last Tuesday he expressed his “deep concern” about the situation, after repeatedly informing his Israeli interlocutors about the situation “through regular channels.”

The role of UN peacekeepers in Lebanon has often been criticized by the Israeli military, although their mandate does not include confronting the Shia militia party or conducting searches on their own. He believes that this international mission is failing and that its members are partly responsible for Hezbollah’s gaining strength in southern Lebanon and not ceasing attacks toward northern Israel during the current conflict. This is also one of the reasons on the basis of which the state bases its troops’ intrusion into the neighboring country.

The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and those responsible for the government and armed forces have been insisting for weeks that the ground offensive launched on October 1 was aimed at neutralizing the threat and allowing about 60,000 residents around the border to evacuate. Have to give. Deported for months before returning safely to their homes. A man and a woman walking their dog died Wednesday after being hit by shrapnel from a projectile launched from Lebanon in Kiryat Shmona, a town in the border region that has been evacuated and where its Of the 20,000 inhabitants, barely 2,000 remain.

Gaza bombing

Meanwhile, the intensity of the bombardment has not decreased in the Gaza Strip, where the death toll exceeded 42,000 this Wednesday. According to data provided by the Red Crescent, Israel has killed at least 28 people, most of them women and minors, in the bombing of a school that served as a shelter in Deir al-Balah this Thursday, and Fifty have been injured. The attacked area, in the heart of the Palestinian enclave, is home to approximately one million people, most of whom were displaced from elsewhere during the last year of fighting.

Israel usually attacks this type of infrastructure, in some cases managed by the United Nations, under the pretext, such as this Thursday, that Hamas uses these buildings as weapons warehouses, command centers or projectile launch sites. Is. “This is another example of the actions of the terrorist organization Hamas with its systematic misuse of civilian infrastructure in violation of international law,” the military said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Israeli occupation troops continue their offensive in the north of the Strip, particularly in the Jabaliya refugee camp. According to the military, some troops there have had close encounters with the Palestinian armed resistance, with some images showing soldiers advancing from house to house, shooting. He also claimed to have stopped the launch of a drone from the Strip towards Israeli territory.

Given the rising tensions in the country pending a response to last week’s Iranian attack, the Israeli military reminded the population of the basic rules to keep in mind in the event of an attack and how to stay permanently connected via radio Is. , computer or mobile phone. It’s all about heeding the warnings and getting to a safe place – almost always a shelter or safe room – as quickly as possible. The recommendations come days after a large number of trips took place, with many citizens traveling outside their usual place of residence. Israel is on the verge of celebrating Yom Kippur Day, or Forgiveness Day, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, between Friday and Saturday, 10 days earlier than the beginning of the year.