Beirut - New York: Europe and the Arabs
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said its peacekeepers were attacked by Israeli drones while they were removing obstacles blocking access to one of its positions near the Blue Line.
UNIFIL described the attack as "one of the most serious" on its personnel and property since the cessation of hostilities agreement last November.
It stressed that any actions that endanger UN peacekeepers and their property, or any interference in their mandated tasks, "are unacceptable and constitute a serious violation of Security Council Resolution 1701 and international law." UNIFIL stated that the responsibility for ensuring the safety and security of peacekeepers carrying out the tasks mandated by the Security Council lies with the Israeli military. According to the UN daily news bulletin, the UN mission reported that drones dropped four bombs near its forces on Tuesday morning while they were working near the southern town of Marwahin, despite the Israeli military being informed in advance of the work in the area. It said that one bomb fell 20 meters away, and three others fell about 100 meters away from UN personnel and vehicles. The drones were then seen returning to the south of the Blue Line separating Israel and Lebanon. The mission confirmed that work was suspended following the incident to ensure the safety of peacekeeping forces.
Jordan condemned the attack, and Jordanian Foreign Ministry spokesman Fuad Majali confirmed, according to Petra News Agency, that "the Israeli attack, which comes after the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2790 renewing the mandate of UNIFIL in Lebanon, reflects systematic Israeli practices that threaten regional stability and international peace and security."
Majali warned that continued Israeli violations of the ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel, and their escalation in the region, threaten security and stability in the entire region. He reiterated Jordan's commitment to supporting Lebanon, its security, sovereignty, and the safety of its citizens. For his part, UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed his deep concern in a statement regarding the Israeli occupation forces' attack on UNIFIL, stressing that the UN forces were carrying out their mandated tasks in support of the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701.
Guterres stressed that any actions that endanger the lives of peacekeepers are absolutely unacceptable and called on the responsible parties to ensure the safety and security of UN facilities.
On August 28, the UN Security Council unanimously agreed to extend UNIFIL's mandate for the final time in Lebanon until the end of next year, after which a coordinated and safe drawdown and withdrawal process will begin within a one-year period.
UNIFIL is a multinational international peacekeeping force of the United Nations in Lebanon. It was established on March 19, 1978, pursuant to UN Security Council Resolutions 425 and 426, and several other resolutions, to support the operations of the Lebanese Armed Forces, confirm the Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon, and ensure the restoration of the Government of Lebanon's effective authority in the area.