By Amjad Qaimkhani
NEW YORK: A United Nations peacekeeper deployed in southern Lebanon was injured in an Israeli attack, UN officials said on Saturday, marking the latest in a series of incidents involving peacekeeping forces in the region.
According to Arab media reports, the UN described the Israeli action as “aggressive”, noting that the peacekeeper was wounded during an assault on positions held by the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). The force has been stationed along the Israel-Lebanon border to help maintain a buffer and prevent hostilities between the two sides.
The UN said the incident near Bistra village involved both gunfire and a hand grenade explosion. While the injured peacekeeper received medical attention, the UN stressed that any attack on its personnel constitutes a serious violation of international agreements governing the force’s operations. This is not the first time UNIFIL personnel have come under attack.
In October, Israeli forces reportedly carried out three separate hand grenade attacks on peacekeeping positions, resulting in injuries to at least one other UN soldier. UN officials have called for restraint and urged all parties in the region to respect the safety and mandate of international peacekeeping personnel, highlighting the fragile security situation along the border.
