NEW YORK CITY: The UN Interim Force in Lebanon has launched an investigation after two of its peacekeepers were killed and two injured by an explosion in the south of the country on Monday.
The blast destroyed a UNIFIL vehicle near the village of Bani Hayyan. The injuries to one of the wounded, who was being treated at a hospital in Beirut, were described as severe.
It was the second fatal incident involving peacekeepers in the space of 24 hours. On Sunday, a member of the UN force from Indonesia was killed by an explosion inside a UNIFIL base at Ett Taibe in Sector East. Another person was critically wounded and taken to a hospital in Beirut.
“We have launched an investigation to determine what happened,” UNIFIL said of the latest incident.
The UN’s peacekeeping chief, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, strongly condemned the attack. He told reporters in New York that “the origin of the explosion is not yet determined,” and UNIFIL continues to operate under dangerous conditions.
“We also remain seriously concerned about several aggressive behaviors,” and “all acts that endanger the peacekeepers must stop,” he added, condemning what he described as unacceptable incidents targeting UN personnel.
The peacekeeping force expressed its condolences to the families and colleagues of the victims of the latest incident and said it hoped for the “full and fast recovery” of the injured.
UNIFIL also reiterated its calls for all parties involved in the conflict to comply with international law and ensure the safety of UN personnel and property.
“Deliberate attacks on peacekeepers are grave violations of international humanitarian law and of Security Council Resolution 1701, and may constitute war crimes,” it said.
The mission added that the human toll of the ongoing violence remained “far too high” and renewed its call for an end to hostilities in the region.
