The UN Security Council strongly condemned the recent attack on the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) that resulted in the death of a French peacekeeper and left three others injured, two of them seriously. The Council members have urged the United Nations to promptly investigate the incident to ensure accountability for those responsible and to keep the contributing country informed. They emphasized the importance of safeguarding peacekeepers, offering condolences to the victims’ families and expressing solidarity with France for a swift recovery of the injured.
The Security Council reiterated its unwavering support for UNIFIL and called on all parties to uphold the safety and security of the mission’s personnel and facilities, as well as its freedom of movement as per international law. Additionally, they reaffirmed their commitment to Lebanon’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity, urging compliance with Security Council Resolution 1701 and the recent cessation of hostilities agreement. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also condemned the attack, emphasizing the need to halt all assaults on peacekeepers, which violate international humanitarian law and may constitute war crimes.
The Secretary-General stressed the importance of investigating such attacks promptly and ensuring accountability for the perpetrators. The incident, involving suspected Hezbollah actors, occurred despite a ceasefire announcement, marking the third recent attack resulting in peacekeeper casualties. Guterres extended his condolences to the deceased peacekeeper’s family and colleagues, wishing a speedy recovery to the injured personnel, while urging all parties to respect the ceasefire and cease hostilities.
