BEIRUT: The United Nations (UN) peacekeeping force in south Lebanon has announced that it is investigating a blast in the Rmeish area that wounded 4 unarmed peacekeepers on a foot patrol along the Blue Line that divides Israel from the disputed Golan Heights and Lebanon.
In a statement released on Saturday, UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti, said that the casualties — 3 military observers from the UN Truce Supervision Organization and a Lebanese language assistant — have been evacuated for medical treatment.
The Lebanese state-run media reported that the UN peacekeepers were subjected to an Israeli attack carried out by drones.
However, in a tweet, Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee said that the Israeli Defense Forces did not target any UNIFIL vehicles in the Rmeish area.
Tenenti said that the UNTSO observers, who are part of Observer Group Lebanon, support UNIFIL in implementing the force’s mandate, which includes monitoring the cessation of hostilities, assisting in ensuring humanitarian access to civilian populations and helping the Lebanese government in securing the country’s borders.
The spokesperson highlighted the responsibility of all actors in the conflict, under international law, to ensure protection for non-combatants, and urged for a cessation of heavy exchanges of fire before more people are unnecessarily affected.
Tense Situation in Lebanon
Tenenti said that, following the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel, the situation in southern Lebanon has become increasingly tense, with shelling taking place deeper within the country which could lead to a much wider conflict.
Two days before the blast, UNIFIL expressed concern over a rise of violence occurring across the Blue Line, which has caused a high number of civilians and the destruction of livelihoods and homes.
