UNFIL attack: EU reacts as 8 peacekeepers wounded in Lebanon

It was reported that eight Austrian peacekeepers participating in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) were injured on tuesday following the rocket attacks stemming likely from Hezbollah or an affiliated group.

In a statement released by European Union Commission on Tuesday stated that attacks on UN peacekeepers are a violation of international law and are totally unacceptable.

While the EU reiterated its call to all sides to fully uphold obligations to guarantee the safety and security of UN personnel at all times, vowed to renew its unwavering support to UNIFIL’s role.
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said on Tuesday that a rocket that hit its headquarters in Naqoura was fired from the north, likely by Lebanon’s militant group Hezbollah or an affiliated group.

Earlier on Tuesday, Austria’s defense ministry said eight Austrian soldiers belonging to the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) sustained superficial injuries in a rocket strike on Camp Naqoura near Israel.

UNIFIL is stationed in southern Lebanon to monitor hostilities along the demarcation line with Israel, an area that has seen fierce clashes this month between Israeli troops and Iran-backed Hezbollah fighters.
“We condemn this attack in the strongest possible terms and demand that it be investigated immediately,” the ministry said in a statement, adding that none of the soldiers needed urgent medical care.

Austria contributes about 180 soldiers to the 10,000-strong force. They are part of a “Multi Role Logistic Unit” that performs roles like transporting goods and personnel, repairing vehicles, supplying fuel and firefighting.

UNIFIL said earlier this month it had come under several “deliberate” attacks by Israeli forces and efforts to help civilians in villages in the war zone were being hampered by Israeli shelling.
Israel Defense Force also said UN forces provide a human shield for Hezbollah and has told UNIFIL to evacuate peacekeepers from southern Lebanon for their own safety – a request that it has refused.

Five peacekeepers had already been injured since the start of Israeli ground operation in Lebanon on Oct. 1. UNIFIL positions have been affected at least 20 times, including by direct fire and an incident on Oct. 13 when two Israeli tanks burst through the gates of a UNIFIL base, according to the UN.

Israel has ramped up its airstrikes across Lebanon over the last month, saying it is targeting Hezbollah. Lebanese officials, rights groups and residents of affected towns say the strikes are indiscriminate.