A United Nations peacekeeper in southern Lebanon, identified as an Indonesian soldier, was wounded during an attack by a group of young men on a patrol. The incident occurred on Wednesday night when residents in the village of Taybeh briefly obstructed the peacekeepers’ patrol. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) reported damage to a vehicle.
In a separate incident on Thursday morning, another UNIFIL convoy heading to the eastern headquarters was momentarily blocked by residents, who allowed passage after a brief discussion. The UNIFIL spokesperson, Kandice Ardiel, mentioned that the convoy was hit with sticks and rocks by a group of men.
The motive behind these actions remains unclear, but past incidents indicate local objections to UNIFIL peacekeepers using military vehicles in residential areas. UNIFIL called on Lebanese authorities to investigate the attacks and bring the perpetrators to justice.
Amidst heightened tensions since the Israel-Hamas war outbreak in the Gaza Strip, the area has experienced sporadic cross-border fire exchanges between Hezbollah, backed by Iran, and Israel. Notably, no peacekeepers have been killed during the recent hostilities, but two have been wounded in separate incidents. UNIFIL compounds and bases have also suffered damage from mortar fire.
Also, one Irish peacekeeper lost his life in December 2022 when a U.N. vehicle he was driving was fired upon in southern Lebanon. The current UNIFIL mission involves approximately 10,000 troops from 47 countries and around 800 civilian staff, stationed across a 1,060 square km area between the Litani River and the Blue Line.
