United Nations Military Observers Wounded in Southern Lebanon
On Saturday, a shell exploded near a group of United Nations military observers patrolling the southern Lebanese border, resulting in injuries, according to the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Lebanon.
The military observers are affiliated with the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization, which provides support to the U.N. peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon, known as UNIFIL.
Reports from local Lebanese media, quoting security officials, suggest that the observers were targeted by an Israeli drone strike in the southern village of Wadi Katmoun near Rmeich, a town located along the border. Al-Manar, a television station affiliated with Hezbollah, stated that the drone strike caused wounds to three officers from Australia, Chile, and Norway, as well as a Lebanese interpreter.
UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti stated that they are currently investigating the source of the explosion.
"The deliberate targeting of peacekeepers is intolerable," expressed Tenenti in an interview with The Associated Press. "We urge all parties involved to halt the ongoing heavy exchanges of fire to prevent further unnecessary casualties."
This came as tensions between the Israeli military and Hezbollah militants continued to rise in recent weeks. The ongoing clashes have been a cause for concern since the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza, sparking fears that the border skirmishes could escalate into a full-blown war. The violence has already led to the displacement of tens of thousands of people.
UNIFIL was established to supervise the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon after the 1978 invasion. Its mandate was later expanded after the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah, allowing peacekeepers to patrol the Israeli border and assist the Lebanese military in asserting control over the southern region for the first time in many years.
