UN peacekeepers increasingly under attack in Lebanon.
After yesterday's attacks, Israel opened fire again this morning.
First it hit the main base of the Unifil mission, led by the Sassari Brigade, in Naqoura , in southern Lebanon, where there are about seventy Italian soldiers. In the explosions two Sri Lankan soldiers were injured, one of them is in serious condition .
Shortly after, an Italian base, 1-31 (already hit yesterday), was targeted and some of its demarcation walls were reportedly knocked down. UNIFIL itself reported: "Today several T-shaped walls at our UN post 1-31, near the blue line in Labbouneh, fell when an IDF caterpillar hit the perimeter and IDF tanks moved close to the UN post. Our peacekeeping forces remained in place and a UNIFIL rapid reaction force was sent to assist and reinforce the position."
"These incidents - UNIFIL reiterates - once again put at very serious risk the United Nations peacekeepers , who are serving in South Lebanon at the request of the Security Council under resolution 1701 (2006). This is a serious development, the safety of United Nations personnel and property must be guaranteed and the inviolability of United Nations premises must be respected at all times. Any deliberate attack against peacekeepers constitutes a serious violation of international humanitarian law and Security Council resolution 1701 (2006) ."
ISRAEL
The Israeli army, referring to the explosions that occurred this morning near the main base, specifies that these are "accidents" during Hezbollah clashes.
As for the attacks on the Italian base, he instead said that "the incident is under investigation and its details are being examined" . "We will transmit the results in a transparent manner to Italy. In this regard, the Israeli military attaché will meet today with the leaders of the Italian army to illustrate the details of the investigation. Israel acts in a transparent manner and in close cooperation with Italy and with Unifil which operates on the ground, and regrets any damage to the UN and to forces not involved", reads a statement from the Israeli embassy in Italy.
"Unfortunately - the note reads - the terrorist organization Hezbollah has installed its military capabilities undisturbed near the UNIFIL bases. Hezbollah has long been attacking Israel by operating near these bases, shooting at Israeli territory and digging tunnels near the aforementioned bases to drag Israel into some provocation. Israel is forced to respond to these attacks, to protect its forces and the safety of its citizens. Israel reiterates that it is not interested in an escalation in Lebanon, but is obliged to protect its citizens in accordance with international law".
The embassy note also underlines that "Israel appreciates Italy's efforts to prevent escalation in our areas and its contribution to UNIFIL", but "the international community must demand the disarmament and withdrawal of Hezbollah forces in accordance with UN resolution 1701" .
THE REACTIONS
"A violation of international humanitarian law," thunders the Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres. "The Italian soldiers are untouchable, they are not Hezbollah militants," reiterates the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani , announcing that he has written again to the Israeli Foreign Minister. "What is happening is unacceptable, there is unequivocal evidence that it was Israeli soldiers who fired." And again: "We are friends of Israel, but this must not turn into the possibility of endangering the lives of our soldiers, who are there to bring peace and not to wage war." Condemnation of the attacks has come from many quarters: the European Union, Berlin, London, Paris, Beijing and Moscow.
CROSETTO: «WE ARE NOT RETREATING»
For days Israel has been asking the Blue Helmets to leave for their own safety; according to the Tel Aviv authorities, the presence of the peacekeepers "hinders" Israeli operations against Hezbollah ( HERE ARE THE REASONS FOR THE ATTACKS ).
But the Italian contingent reiterated once again last night that "the Italian military will not abandon the base". And the Minister of Defense Guido Crosetto added fuel to the fire: "We are in Lebanon and we will remain there, we will never be the ones to move because someone tells us, by force, to move. We will remain there with the strength of the United Nations mandate, we do not take orders from anyone". The decision is still up to the United Nations, Crosetto recalled, who is asking for a review of the rules of engagement and announces that the issue will be addressed by the UN next week.
"I demand respect from Israel. The respect due to a friendly nation engaged in a peace mission," added the government representative Meloni. Crosetto also reported having had discussions with Israel in these hours: " What should happen next time, should we respond? That's what I said, it was a provocative question due to the gravity of the act that occurred."
“DELIBERATED” ATTACKS
Yesterday, for the first time since the beginning of the conflict, Israel struck the bases of the peacekeeping mission , in the western sector led by the Sassari Brigade and which includes 1,200 Italian soldiers, mostly Sardinians . It did so "deliberately", provoking an outcry from the Italian government, which summoned Tel Aviv's ambassador to Rome.
Following yesterday's attacks, during a meeting of the UN Security Council, UNIFIL decided to temporarily transfer 300 of the more than 10,000 peacekeepers deployed in Lebanon to larger bases for security reasons.
(Online Union)