A fifth UN peacekeeper has been injured amid escalating conflict in southern Lebanon, Unifil has confirmed.
On Friday, the peacekeeper at Unifil headquarters in Naqoura was hit by gunfire amid ongoing military activity nearby. He underwent surgery at the Naqoura hospital to remove the bullet and was currently stable, a Unifil statement said.
Unifil could not confirm the origin of the gunfire. The Defence Forces said on Saturday afternoon that all Irish peacekeepers were accounted for and well.
Two other peacekeepers were injured on Friday by an Israeli strike near their watchtower in south Lebanon while another two peacekeepers were injured on Thursday after falling from a watchtower after Israeli tank fire.
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Meanwhile, Ireland has co-signed, with 33 other Unifil-contributing countries, a statement initiated by Poland condemning recent incidents in Lebanon and calling for the safety of UN personnel to be respected.
“We consider Unifil’s role as particularly crucial in light of the escalating situation in the region. We therefore strongly condemn recent attacks on Unifil peacekeepers. Such actions should stop immediately and should be adequately investigated,” said the statement.
“We urge the parties of the conflict to respect Unifil’s presence, which entails the obligation to guarantee the safety and security of its personnel at all times, so that they can continue to implement its mandate and continue their work of mediation and support for peace and stability in Lebanon and the entire region.”
Also on Friday night, buildings at Unifil’s position in Ramyah sustained significant damage due to explosions from nearby shelling.
Commenting on the situation, Tánaiste Micheál Martin said there needed to be a full de-escalation across the region from all actors.
“The indiscriminate bombing and killing in Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon must stop. There needs to be full de-escalation across the region from all actors. Above all, UN peacekeepers must be respected and protected. The international community needs to be very clear about that,” Mr Martin said.
It comes as the Israeli military ordered residents of 23 southern Lebanese villages on Saturday to evacuate to areas north of the Awali river, which flows from the western Bekaa Valley into the Mediterranean.
The order, communicated via a military statement, mentions villages in southern Lebanon that have been recent targets of Israeli attacks, many of which are already almost empty.
The Israeli military stated that evacuations were necessary for the safety of residents due to increased Hizbullah activities, claiming the group is using sites to conceal weapons and launch attacks on Israel. Hizbullah denies concealing its weapons among civilians.
The conflict between Israel and Hizbullah, which erupted one year ago when the Iranian-backed group began launching rockets at northern Israel in support of Hamas at the start of the Gaza war, has dramatically escalated over the past month.
Intensified Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon, the Bekaa Valley and the southern suburbs of Beirut have forced about 1.2 million people from their homes since September 23rd, according to the Lebanese government.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said on Saturday that more Lebanese had now been displaced than during the last major war between Israel and Hizbullah in 2006, when about one million fled their homes.
Amid the escalating situation, Taoiseach Simon Harris said Israel must stop firing on UN peacekeepers.
Mr Harris is to call for an immediate ceasefire in the region at the European Council.
On Wednesday, the Taoiseach discussed the Israeli activity on the Blue Line with US president Joe Biden in the Oval Office. He said the leaders agreed that the Blue Helmets must “always be afforded full protection”.
The Taoiseach has also been communicating with UN secretary general António Guterres.
In a statement, Mr Harris said: “Israel must stop firing on UN peacekeepers serving with Unifil in Lebanon. Israel must listen to the voice and the concerns of the international community.”
Mr Harris said he would be discussing the incidents with EU colleagues at next week’s meeting of the European Council.
[ Beirut under attack: ‘It’s a devastating thing for your mind and heart’Opens in new window ]
“I will be calling for an immediate ceasefire that can allow us to focus on implementation of UN Resolution 1701 and get people back to their homes,” Mr Harris said.
The Chief of Staff of the Irish Defence Forces said Israel had to be accountable for “deliberate” and “direct fire” on UN outposts.
Lieut Gen Seán Clancy said the attacks were a “clear and egregious” violation.
“A round of a tank into an observer tower, which is a very small target, has to be very deliberate, and it is a direct fire,” he said. “So from a military perspective, this is not an accidental act, it is a direct act.” – Agencies