UNIFIL vehicles drive along a road amid ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces in Marjayoun, near the border with Israel, Nov. 19, 2024. (Credit: Karamallah Daher/Reuters)
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) announced that today, "UN peacekeepers and UNIFIL installations were targeted in three separate incidents in southern Lebanon," one of which injured four Ghanaian peacekeepers.
According to UNIFIL's statement, the injuries occurred when a rocket, "most likely fired by non-state actors from Lebanon," struck their base east of the village of Ramieh in the Bint Jbeil district. Three of the injured peacekeepers were transported to a hospital in Sour for treatment.
Additionally, "UNIFIL's western sector headquarters in Shamaa (Sour district) was hit by five rockets." While this attack caused significant material damage, "no peacekeepers were injured," the statement said, noting that it was the second time the base had been targeted in less than a week. On Nov. 15, a 155 mm artillery shell had struck the same base.
UNIFIL also reported that one of its patrols came under direct fire from an armed individual while traveling on a road northeast of the village of Khirbet Silm (Bint Jbeil district). No injuries were reported in this incident.
In its statement, UNIFIL said it had "launched investigations into each of these incidents" and had "informed the Lebanese army." The peacekeeping force condemned "the series of regular attacks" on its personnel, describing them as "a blatant violation of international laws." Despite these challenges, "peacekeepers remain stationed at all their positions, impartially reporting violations of Resolution 1701," the statement added.
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, adopted in Aug. 2006, ended the war between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon. It called for a cease-fire, the deployment of UNIFIL, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon, and the disarmament of non-state armed groups.
