India has voiced its concerns regarding the safety of UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon after they were caught in the crossfire between Israeli forces and Hezbollah targets. Among these peacekeepers are 600 Indian soldiers, who are deployed along the 120-km Blue Line at the Israel-Lebanon border.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Ministry of External Affairs stated, “We are concerned about the deteriorating security situation along the Blue Line. We continue to monitor the situation closely. Inviolability of UN premises must be respected by all, and appropriate measures taken to ensure the safety of UN peacekeepers and the sanctity of their mandate.”
This statement followed reports from the UN indicating that the Naqoura headquarters of the United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon (UNIFIL) and nearby positions have faced repeated attacks from Israeli forces.
The UN reported that “this morning, two peacekeepers were injured after an IDF Merkava tank fired its weapon toward an observation tower at UNIFIL’s headquarters in Naqoura, directly hitting it and causing them to fall.” Fortunately, the injuries were not serious, and the peacekeepers remain in the hospital.
Tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border have intensified since the assassination of former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, with Israel reportedly deploying land-based weaponry in the area, increasing the risk for the stationed troops.
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) have accused Hezbollah of operating near UNIFIL posts. The IDF stated, “The IDF is operating in southern Lebanon and maintains routine communication with UNIFIL.” It added, “This morning (Thursday), IDF troops operated in the area of Naqoura, next to a UNIFIL base. Accordingly, the IDF instructed the UN forces in the area to remain in protected spaces, following which the forces opened fire in the area.”
