In an announcement launched on Saturday, UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti, stated that the casualties – three army observers from the UN Truce Supervision Group (UNTSO) and a Lebanese language assistant – have been evacuated for medical therapy.
The Lebanese state-run Nationwide Information Company reported that the UN peacekeepers had been “subjected to an Israeli strike” carried out by drones. Nonetheless, in a Tweet, Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee stated that the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) didn’t goal any UNIFIL autos within the Rmeish space.
Mr. Tenenti defined that the UNTSO observers, who’re a part of Observer Group Lebanon (OGL), assist UNIFIL in implementing the power’s mandate, which incorporates monitoring the cessation of hostilities, serving to to make sure humanitarian entry to civilian populations and aiding the Lebanese authorities in securing the nation’s borders.
The spokesperson underlined the accountability of all actors within the battle, below worldwide regulation, to make sure safety for non-combatants, and known as for a cessation of heavy exchanges of fireside “earlier than extra individuals are unnecessarily harm”.
In a media interview, Mr. Tenenti advised reporters that, following the 7 October Hamas assaults on Israel, the scenario in southern Lebanon has grow to be more and more tense, with shelling going down deeper inside Lebanon which “might doubtlessly set off a a lot wider battle”.
Two days earlier than the explosion, UNIFIL expressed concern over a “surge of violence” occurring throughout the Blue Line, which has precipitated a “excessive variety of civilians and the destruction of houses and livelihoods”. The power known as for a ceasefire, and urged all sides within the battle to start the method towards a sustainable political and diplomatic answer.
Afterward Saturday, UN Secretary-Common António Guterres stated in an announcement that the scenario alongside the Blue Line continues to be of grave concern, referring to the each day exchanges of fireside which have taken place between non-state armed teams primarily based in Lebanon and the Israel Protection Forces since 8 October 2023.
The civilian fatalities reported, destruction of residential and agricultural areas, and displacement of tens of 1000’s of individuals on either side of the Blue Line, is unacceptable, declared the UN chief, and threaten the safety and stability of Lebanon, Israel, and the area.
