Beirut thanks UNIFIL and denounces 'deliberate' Israeli attacks on its positions

The Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on Monday expressing its "gratitude" to the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which has been deployed in the south of the country and has been the target of what it calls "deliberate" Israeli attacks over the past two weeks.

"After consulting with the Speaker of Parliament, Nabih Berri, and caretaker Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, the ministry expresses its sincere gratitude to UNIFIL, as well as its deep appreciation for the role it has played since its establishment in 1978 in preserving security and peace in the South," Bustros Palace said in a statement. It praised the fact that the peacekeepers "contribute to the development of local communities, help establish stability in the region, and maintain citizens on their land."

The ministry also thanked the "governments of the countries participating" in UNIFIL, "which share Lebanon’s belief in U.N. values," and "strongly condemned the repeated Israeli attacks on the positions and members of the U.N. force, including Israel's demands to evacuate its positions."

Lebanese diplomacy denounced these actions as a "flagrant violation of international law and international humanitarian law, potentially constituting war crimes," and condemned Israel’s "refusal" to implement U.N. Security Council and General Assembly resolutions, notably Resolution 1701.

UNIFIL, which consists of around 9,500 soldiers from more than 50 countries, accused the Israeli army of "deliberately" targeting its positions, resulting in several injuries. The Israeli army claims it was not targeting the peacekeepers, but the incidents have sparked a wave of international criticism.