Israel tells US it will continue steps to avoid harm to UN peacekeepers in Lebanon
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said that Israel will continue to take measures to avoid any harm to UN peacekeepers.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Follow topic:
JERUSALEM - Defence Minister Yoav Gallant told his US counterpart Lloyd Austin that Israel will continue to take measures to avoid any harm to UN peacekeepers deployed in southern Lebanon, the Defence Ministry said on Oct 13.
“Minister Gallant emphasised... the IDF (Israel Defence Force) will continue to take measures to avoid harm to UNIFIL troops and peacekeeping positions” in southern Lebanon, the ministry said in a statement following overnight talks between the pair. At least five peacekeepers have been wounded in recent days as Israeli forces fight against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.
The peacekeeping mission, UNIFIL, has accused the Israeli military of “deliberately” firing on its positions.
UNIFIL said that, in recent days, its forces have repeatedly come under fire in the Lebanese town of Naqura where it is headquartered, as well as in other positions.
“Such actions must stop immediately and should be adequately investigated,” 40 nations that contribute to the force including Indonesia, Italy and India said in a joint statement on Oct 12.
UNIFIL, which involves about 9,500 troops of some 50 nationalities, is tasked with, among other things, monitoring a ceasefire that ended the 33-day 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah. AFP
