UNIFIL Says Israeli Forces Destroyed Some of its Property Along Border with Lebanon

A convoy of United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) vehicles drive in the Marjayoun area in southern Lebanon, to accompany Lebanese Red Cross ambulances on November 8, 2024, amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hezbollah. (Photo by AFP)
A convoy of United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) vehicles drive in the Marjayoun area in southern Lebanon, to accompany Lebanese Red Cross ambulances on November 8, 2024, amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hezbollah. (Photo by AFP)
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UNIFIL Says Israeli Forces Destroyed Some of its Property Along Border with Lebanon

A convoy of United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) vehicles drive in the Marjayoun area in southern Lebanon, to accompany Lebanese Red Cross ambulances on November 8, 2024, amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hezbollah. (Photo by AFP)
A convoy of United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) vehicles drive in the Marjayoun area in southern Lebanon, to accompany Lebanese Red Cross ambulances on November 8, 2024, amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hezbollah. (Photo by AFP)

The United Nations peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon said Friday that Israeli forces deliberately destroyed some of its property in violation of international law.
The force, known as UNIFIL, is in southern Lebanon to monitor the border between Israel and Lebanon.
UNIFL said in a statement that the Israeli military used two excavators and a bulldozer to destroy part of a fence and a concrete structure at the peacekeeping mission’s position in Ras Naqoura on Thursday. UNIFIL said that in response to its “urgent protest," the Israeli army denied any activity was taking place inside the UNIFIL position.
UNIFIL also said the Israeli military this week destroyed and removed two blue barrels that mark the border.
The statement was accompanied by a photo of one blue barrel on its side and a short video of an excavator working in an area where a UN flag was flying.
Since Israel launched a ground war in Lebanon in September, UNIFIL has accused its military of shooting and wounding peacekeepers and attacking UNIFIL positions.
The Israeli military has repeatedly demanded that peacekeepers leave their positions for their safety.
“Yesterday’s incident, like seven other similar incidents, is not a matter of peacekeepers getting caught in the crossfire, but of deliberate and direct actions by the IDF,” the UNIFIL statement said.



Lebanon Condemns Attacks on UN Peacekeeping Mission

 A United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) convoy drives through the southern Lebanese area of Marjayoun on November 20, 2024, as the war between Israel and the Lebanese Hezbollah group continues. (AFP)
A United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) convoy drives through the southern Lebanese area of Marjayoun on November 20, 2024, as the war between Israel and the Lebanese Hezbollah group continues. (AFP)
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Lebanon Condemns Attacks on UN Peacekeeping Mission

 A United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) convoy drives through the southern Lebanese area of Marjayoun on November 20, 2024, as the war between Israel and the Lebanese Hezbollah group continues. (AFP)
A United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) convoy drives through the southern Lebanese area of Marjayoun on November 20, 2024, as the war between Israel and the Lebanese Hezbollah group continues. (AFP)

Lebanon on Monday condemned attacks on the United Nations peacekeeping mission (UNIFIL) stationed in its south, including last week's rocket strike in which four Italian soldiers were lightly injured.

The 10,000-strong multi-national UNIFIL mission is monitoring hostilities along the demarcation line with Israel, an area hit by fierce clashes between the Iran-backed Lebanese Hezbollah party and Israeli forces.

Since Israel launched a ground campaign across the border against Hezbollah at the end of September, UNIFIL soldiers have suffered several attacks coming from both sides.

"Lebanon strongly condemns any attack on UNIFIL and calls on all sides to respect the safety, security of the troops and their premises," Lebanese caretaker Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib said during a conference in Rome.

Bou Habib spoke before attending a G7 foreign ministers' meeting in Anagni, southeast of Rome, along with other colleagues from the Middle East, which was set to discuss conflicts in the region.

Bou Habib added: "Lebanon condemns recent attacks on the Italian contingent and deplores such unjustified hostilities."

Italy said Hezbollah was likely responsible for the attack carried out on Friday against its troops in UNIFIL.

Beirut's foreign minister called for implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended a previous war between Hezbollah and Israel in 2006 with a ceasefire that has faced challenges and violations over the years.

"Lebanon is ready to fulfil its obligations stipulated in the above-mentioned resolution," Bou Habib said.

"This literally means and I quote: 'There will be no weapons without the consent of the government of Lebanon and no authority other than that of the government of Lebanon'."

Hezbollah, militarily more powerful than Lebanon's regular army, says it is defending the country from Israeli aggression. It vows to keep fighting and says it will not lay down arms or allow Israel to achieve political gains on the back of the war.