India, along with 29 other countries, has issued a joint statement urging the safeguarding of UN peacekeepers in Lebanon amidst escalating tensions between Israel and Hezbollah following the Iran conflict. The statement emphasizes the importance of ensuring the safety and security of UNIFIL personnel and premises in compliance with international law. It also praises the dedication and professionalism of the UNIFIL peacekeepers in fulfilling their duties.
The Indian contingent, comprising 642 peacekeepers, ranks as the second largest within the 7,438-member UNIFIL, a peacekeeping mission established in 1978 to monitor hostilities cessation and support the Lebanese government in reclaiming control over southern Lebanon regions. The call for protecting peacekeepers comes after three Ghanaian peacekeepers were injured in a recent attack in southern Lebanon.
India’s Permanent Representative, P. Harish, alongside France’s Permanent Representative, Jerome Bonnafont, presented the statement outside the Security Council before discussions on the Lebanon situation. The statement condemns the recent violence and stresses the need for accountability for those responsible for attacks on peacekeepers. It also denounces Hezbollah’s involvement in the Iran-Israel conflict, urging Israel to refrain from targeting civilian infrastructure and respect Lebanon’s sovereignty.
Under-Secretary-General Jean-Pierre Lacroix informed the Council about the challenging environment in which UNIFIL operates, citing numerous incidents of hostilities across the Blue Line separating Israel and Lebanon. He highlighted Hezbollah’s strikes into Israel and incursions by the Israeli Defense Forces into Lebanon, underscoring the precarious situation in the region.
