Paris (TDI): In a joint statement released on Friday, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez condemned the Israeli Defense Forces’ (IDF) recent attacks on the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
The Elysee press release expressed outrage over the injuries sustained by peacekeepers in Naqoura, describing the attacks as serious violations of Israel’s obligations under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701 and international humanitarian law.
The leaders deemed these actions unjustifiable and called for an immediate halt.
Reports indicate that an Israeli tank fired upon a watchtower at the UNIFIL headquarters in Naqoura, resulting in injuries to two peacekeepers.
Additionally, IDF soldiers targeted a UN position in Labbouneh, damaging the entrance to a bunker where peacekeepers were sheltering, as well as vehicles and communications equipment.
Two more peacekeepers were reportedly injured in subsequent explosions near the watchtower in the Lebanese border area.
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In a post on X, UNIFIL stated that the perimeter walls of their position near the Blue Line in Labbouneh had collapsed due to an Israeli caterpillar, with Israeli tanks moving close to the UN site.
The leaders reiterated the need for the protection of all peacekeepers and praised the commitment of UNIFIL personnel in these challenging circumstances.
Call for Ceasefire
They called for an immediate ceasefire and urged the full implementation of UNSCR 1701 by all parties involved.
This resolution, adopted in 2006, aims to end hostilities between Israel and Lebanon, ensuring the safety and security of both nations’ citizens.
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Since September 23, the Israeli army has escalated its air attacks on Lebanon, particularly targeting Hezbollah.
As of early October, ground operations against Hezbollah positions near the Lebanese border have intensified, alongside increased airstrikes and artillery shelling in southern Beirut, the stronghold of Hezbollah.
