We are receiving updates on the reports of an explosion near members of a UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon.
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has confirmed the incident, saying three peacekeepers on patrol were “lightly injured” when a blast occurred near their clearly marked UN vehicle in the village of Yarin in southern Lebanon.
“All peacekeepers in the patrol returned safely to their base,” UNIFIL spokesman Andrea Tenenti said, giving no further details on the nature of the incident.
“We are looking into the incident. We are strongly reminding all parties and actors of their responsibility to avoid harm to peacekeepers and civilians,” he added.
Lebanese media previously reported that a member of the UNIFIL force was injured after an Israeli attack in the Tyre district in southern Lebanon.
What is UNIFIL?
Here are some quick facts about the force:
- UNIFIL, as well as unarmed technical observers known as UNTSO, has long been stationed in southern Lebanon to monitor hostilities along the demarcation line between Lebanon and Israel, known as the Blue Line.
- Its roughly 10,000 peacekeepers are tasked with monitoring the ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel.
- UNIFIL was set up in 1978 to monitor the withdrawal of Israeli forces after they invaded Lebanon in reprisal for a Palestinian attack.
- Israel continued to occupy territory in southern Lebanon until 2000 when it announced a withdrawal.
- While the withdrawal was certified by the UN, Lebanon disputed it, arguing that the Shebaa Farms was part of its territory and not part of the Syrian Golan Heights, which Israel continues to occupy.
- The UNIFIL force expanded after the war between Hezbollah and Israel in 2006.
- The monthlong war ended with UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which demanded that both sides respect the border and that “all armed groups in Lebanon” be disarmed.
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