The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has announced its intention to file a formal protest following the destruction of surveillance cameras by Israeli soldiers at its headquarters in Naqoura. UNIFIL spokesperson Candice Ardell stated that the cameras, which monitored the immediate area of the UNIFIL compound for peacekeeper security, were destroyed by Israeli troops facing the Menghi road. Expressing serious concern, UNIFIL has informed the Israeli army and plans to submit an official protest, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
The incident occurred amidst escalating regional tensions involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, along with recent incidents impacting UNIFIL positions in southern Lebanon. Earlier, an explosion at a United Nations position near the Adaisseh area in southern Lebanon resulted in injuries to three peacekeepers, two of whom were seriously wounded. The injured peacekeepers were promptly taken to the hospital, with the cause of the explosion remaining unknown, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA). UNIFIL spokesperson Candice Ardell extended wishes for a swift recovery to the injured peacekeepers, emphasizing the challenging circumstances faced by peacekeepers in the central sector of UNIFIL’s operational area.
UNIFIL has highlighted the importance of all parties fulfilling their obligations to safeguard the safety and security of peacekeepers, urging avoidance of activities near peacekeeping operations that could endanger them. The recent security incidents affecting UNIFIL positions and patrols in southern Lebanon, amid ongoing tensions along the Blue Line, underscore the precarious situation faced by peacekeeping forces in the region.
