India condemns repeated Israeli attacks on UN peacekeepers in Lebanon

India has condemned “repeated Israeli attacks” against United Nations (UN) peacekeeping personnel in Lebanon — including at least 700 Indians and emphasized inviolability of UN premises must be respected by all, and appropriate measures taken to ensure the safety of UN peacekeepers.

The External Affairs Ministry expressed serious concern at the deteriorating security situation along the Blue Line — which separates Lebanon from Israel and the Golan Heights. No casualties were reported from the Indian troops based in Lebanon in the Israeli firing.

"We are concerned at the deteriorating security situation along the Blue Line. We continue to monitor the situation closely.” the ministry said in a statement on Oct 11, after the third such attack in three days.

“Inviolability of UN premises must be respected by all, and appropriate measures taken to ensure the safety of UN peacekeepers and the sanctity of their mandate,’’ it added.

Peacekeepers were quoted as saying that Israeli fire at their positions as Israel wages war on Hezbollah.

Notably, India has a 903-strong battalion in the UNIFIL and is the third-largest contributor to this peacekeeping force made up of personnel from 50 countries. India’s response came after several capitals, including the United States, expressed concern over the targeting of the blue helmets — UN peacekeepers.

According to a statement issued by the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), the firing hit its Naqoura headquarters and nearby positions in south Lebanon.

On Oct 10, the UNIFIL in a statement said, "This morning, two peacekeepers were injured after an IDF (Israel Defense Forces) Merkava tank fired its weapon toward an observation tower at UNIFIL’s headquarters in Naqoura, directly hitting it and causing them to fall. The injuries are, fortunately, this time, not serious, but they remain in hospital.’’

“Soldiers of the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) fired on a UN position in Labbouneh, hitting the entrance to the bunker where peacekeepers were sheltering. The firing damaged vehicles and a communications system. An IDF drone was observed flying inside the UN position up to the bunker entrance,” it added.

And, on Oct 9, IDF soldiers deliberately fired at and disabled the position’s perimeter-monitoring cameras.

“They also intentionally fired on UNP 1-32A in Ras Naqoura, where regular Tripartite meetings were held before the conflict began, damaging lighting and a relay station. All warring parties are obligated to ensure the safety and security of the UN personnel and property and respect the inviolability of the UN premises at all times,’’ the UNIFIL said.

Israeli forces fired at a watchtower used by UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon on Oct 11, injuring two, a UN source was quoted as saying.

UN peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix warned that concerns are mounting for the safety of the peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon amid Israel’s ground incursion.

Briefing the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Oct 10, Lacroix described hostilities between Israeli forces and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon as “increasingly alarming”. He said, “The safety and security of peacekeepers is now increasingly in jeopardy.”

Notably, the UNIFIL peacekeepers are present in south Lebanon to support a return to stability under the Security Council mandate after the Israeli withdrawal from the country in 1978. The mandate has been reworked twice given subsequent conflicts along the Blue Line.