New York, Apr. 2 (SANA) The United Nations Security Council condemned incidents that led to the killing and injury of several personnel from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), urging all parties to ensure their safety and security.
In a joint press statement issued this week, Council members denounced the killing of three Indonesian peacekeepers and the injury of five others following an explosion inside a UNIFIL site on March 29. A separate blast targeted a supply convoy the following day, while additional incidents in recent weeks affected UN positions along the Blue Line.
The Council urged all parties to take necessary measures to respect the safety, security and freedom of movement of UN personnel, in line with international law, stressing that peacekeepers must not be targeted under any circumstances.
It also called for a comprehensive investigation into the incidents through UNIFIL and for updates to be shared with troop-contributing countries. The statement reiterated the need for full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and reaffirmed Lebanon’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.
Separately, UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric described the incidents as “unacceptable” in a statement, calling for full accountability for those responsible. He said technical teams are examining evidence at the sites, while efforts to collect and verify information continue in coordination with relevant parties.
Dujarric added that developments on the ground are under constant monitoring to strengthen safety measures and reduce risks to peacekeepers.
On the humanitarian front, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher visited Lebanon in recent days, where he reviewed the impact of the conflict and met displaced families and frontline humanitarian workers. He warned that the country’s emergency humanitarian appeal remains funded at less than one-third of required levels.
Meanwhile, UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix said during a meeting with troop-contributing countries that attacks targeting peacekeepers could constitute war crimes under international law.
UNIFIL, which includes about 8,200 troops from 47 countries, is deployed in southern Lebanon, where tensions have escalated since early March amid ongoing clashes along the border.
R.D
