In a dramatic turn of events, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has sounded the alarm 🚨, warning that attacks on peacekeepers in Lebanon \"may constitute a war crime.\" This strong statement comes after Israeli tanks reportedly breached the gates of a UN peacekeeping base in southern Lebanon.
Over the weekend, tensions escalated as two Israeli tanks allegedly destroyed the main gate of a UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) position and \"forcibly entered\" the site. This incident adds to a series of accusations against Israel for violations and attacks on UN peacekeepers in recent days.
\"UNIFIL peacekeepers remain in all positions, and the UN flag continues to fly high,\" said UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric. \"The Secretary-General reiterates that UNIFIL personnel and premises must never be targeted. Attacks against peacekeepers are breaches of international law, including international humanitarian law, and they may constitute a war crime.\"
Since September 23, the Israeli army has been conducting an intense air campaign in Lebanon, dubbed \"Arrows of the North\" 🎯, amid escalating tensions with Hezbollah. This campaign has reportedly included attacks on UNIFIL positions, injuring at least five peacekeepers over the past week.
Adding fuel to the fire 🔥, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on the UN chief to move peacekeepers out of \"harm's way,\" accusing Hezbollah of using them as \"human shields.\" However, UNIFIL remains steadfast. \"There was a unanimous decision to stay because it's important for the UN flag to still fly high in this region, and to be able to report to the Security Council,\" said UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti.
Established in 1978, UNIFIL's mission has been to monitor peace and security in southern Lebanon. After the 2006 conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, its mandate expanded to oversee the cessation of hostilities and support the Lebanese armed forces in the region.
The situation remains tense, and the world watches closely as these developments unfold. Stay tuned for more updates on this critical issue. 🕊️
Reference(s):
UN chief: Attacks on Lebanon peacekeepers could constitute war crimes
cgtn.com
