Capital, March 31 (SANA) France and Italy warned Tuesday of increasing risks to UN peacekeepers following recent attacks on UNIFIL personnel, describing the incidents as unacceptable.
In a joint statement issued Tuesday, Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto and French Defense Minister Catherine Vautrin condemned the attacks targeting UNIFIL personnel in southern Lebanon.
They described the incidents as “unacceptable” and warned of growing risks facing peacekeepers deployed in the mission, stressing that Lebanon’s stability remains essential for wider regional security.
The two ministers said France and Italy would continue close coordination to ensure the safety of international forces and to support Lebanese authorities.
France has also requested an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council to address the escalation following the incidents.
The developments follow a series of deadly attacks in recent days. One Indonesian peacekeeper was killed on Sunday in an explosion near a border village, while two others were killed on Monday in a separate blast, with several more personnel injured.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot also condemned what he described as violations and intimidation against UN personnel, calling for respect of established rules of engagement.
UNIFIL, which includes about 8,200 troops from 47 countries, is deployed in southern Lebanon, where cross-border tensions have intensified in recent weeks.
R.H
