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India Expresses Concern Over Israeli Attacks on UN Peacekeepers in Lebanon
India has expressed serious concern over repeated Israeli attacks on United Nations peacekeeping personnel, including Indian troops, stationed along the Blue Line separating Lebanon from Israel and the Golan Heights.
This concern follows reports of Israeli fire targeting UN positions in southern Lebanon for three consecutive days, including strikes on UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) headquarters in Naqoura. India, which has 903 personnel stationed in the region, is the third-largest contributor to the UN peacekeeping mission.
UN Peacekeepers Targeted by Israeli Forces
The attacks, which have drawn international condemnation, including from Western capitals, have seen Israeli forces repeatedly firing on UN positions. Fortunately, no casualties were reported among Indian troops. However, two UN peacekeepers were injured in one of the incidents on Thursday when an Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) Merkava tank fired at a watchtower at the UNIFIL headquarters in Naqoura. According to UNIFIL, the injured peacekeepers are currently being treated in a hospital for non-serious injuries.
In a separate incident, IDF soldiers reportedly fired on a UN position in Labbouneh, damaging vehicles and communication systems and targeting the entrance to a bunker where peacekeepers were sheltering. Israeli forces also deliberately destroyed perimeter-monitoring cameras at a UN position in Ras Naqoura, further escalating tensions.
India’s Response to the Situation
India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a statement late on Friday, urging all parties to respect the inviolability of UN premises and take necessary measures to ensure the safety of peacekeepers. India’s response came after similar expressions of concern from other international actors, including the United States.
India’s battalion in UNIFIL plays a crucial role in maintaining peace along the Blue Line, a region that has witnessed multiple conflicts since the Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon in 1978. As tensions rise, the safety of peacekeepers remains a critical concern for the international community, with India underscoring the importance of upholding the UN’s mandate and ensuring the protection of its personnel.
