Two peacekeepers from the UNIFIL, the UN force deployed between Lebanon and Israel, were injured by "shots from an Israeli tank" at their headquarters in southern Lebanon, the United Nations mission reported on Thursday. The nationality of the injured personnel is unknown, although sources from the Spanish Ministry of Defense confirmed to EFE that "none of the Spaniards are injured." The injuries are not serious, but they remain in the hospital.
"This morning, two peacekeepers were injured after an Israeli army Merkava tank fired at an observation tower at the UNIFIL headquarters in Ras al Naqura, hitting it directly and causing the two peacekeepers to fall," UNIFIL stated in its press release.
Israeli soldiers also fired at the UN position in the town of Labbouneh, hitting the entrance of the bunker where the peacekeeping forces were taking refuge. They damaged vehicles and a communications system. An Israeli Army drone flew into the UN position up to the bunker entrance.
All this comes after Israeli soldiers deliberately fired at surveillance cameras at the same post on Wednesday, rendering them inoperable, according to the statement.
"Any deliberate attack on peacekeeping forces is a serious violation of international humanitarian law," UNIFIL declared, adding that they were in contact with the Israeli army. There have been no immediate comments from the Israeli armed forces.
The UN mission was established in 1978 and revitalized in 2006 to monitor the so-called Blue Line, the unofficially agreed land border between Israel and Lebanon. Spain has been participating in the deployment since 2006.