India, with other nations such as Ghana, Nepal, Malaysia, Spain, France, and China, sent several hundred troops to the force
Dozens of nations contributing to the United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon, including India, have issued a strong condemnation of recent attacks targeting peacekeepers stationed in the region. These incidents come in the wake of Israel’s military campaign against Hezbollah, raising concerns about the safety and security of personnel deployed to maintain stability in Lebanon. The peacekeeping nations have reiterated their commitment to protecting their forces and underscored the importance of upholding international peace and security.
“Such actions must stop immediately and should be adequately investigated,” said the joint statement on Saturday, signed by nations including leading contributors Indonesia and Italy. Other nations which include Ghana, Nepal, Malaysia, Spain, France and China have sent hundreds of troops.
At least five peacekeepers have been wounded in recent days as Israel intensifies its military operations against Iran-backed Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, raising concerns of a broader conflict in the West Asia region. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has accused the Israeli military of “deliberately” targeting its positions during these hostilities.
In response to the escalating violence, India, a major troop-contributing country, has fully endorsed the joint statement issued by the 34 nations contributing to UNIFIL. The Indian mission to the UN emphasized that the safety and security of peacekeepers is of paramount importance and must be upheld in accordance with existing UN Security Council resolutions.
What is UNIFIL?
The Israeli military has fired on the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), international peacekeepers in Lebanon, according to a UN statement.
“This morning, two peacekeepers were injured after an IDF [Israeli army] Merkava tank fired its weapon toward an observation tower at UNIFIL’s headquarters in Naqura [Naqoura], directly hitting it and causing them to fall,” a UNIFIL spokesperson said on Sunday.
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) was established by the UN Security Council (UNSC) in March 1978, shortly after Israel’s invasion of Lebanon. In response to the conflict, the UNSC adopted Resolutions 425 and 426, which called for Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanese territory and outlined the creation of UNIFIL to help maintain peace and security in the region. This mission has since played a crucial role in stabilizing southern Lebanon amidst ongoing tensions.
According to the decision that set it up, UNIFIL was deployed to Lebanon to fulfil three objectives: “Confirming the withdrawal of Israeli forces, restoring international peace and security, assisting the Government of Lebanon in ensuring the return of its effective authority in the area”.
Because UNIFIL’s area of focus is on the south of Lebanon, near the Israel border, it is present in several locations traditionally associated with the powerful Lebanese group Hezbollah.
