UN observers wounded in explosion while on patrol in southern Lebanon

Several United Nations observers and a translator sustained injuries during a patrol along the southern Lebanon border when a shell exploded nearby, announced the UN peacekeeping mission.

The incident unfolded in Rmeish, a village situated along the Israeli-Lebanese border. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), responsible for monitoring the Israel-Lebanon border, promptly condemned the targeting of peacekeepers as "unacceptable." UNIFIL stressed the imperative nature of ensuring the safety and security of UN personnel.

The specific origin of the blast remains under investigation, as stated by UNIFIL. The area has been witnessing frequent exchanges of fire between the Israeli military and the Iran-aligned Hezbollah, an ally of Hamas, since the onset of the current conflict in Gaza back in October.

Emphasizing the significance of upholding international humanitarian law, UNIFIL reiterated the responsibility of all parties involved to safeguard non-combatants, including peacekeepers, journalists, medical personnel, and civilians. The mission urged for an immediate cessation of the ongoing heavy exchanges of fire to prevent further unnecessary harm to individuals.

While two security sources informed Reuters that the observers were wounded in an Israeli strike, the Israeli military refuted these claims, stating that it did not target the UNIFIL vehicle in the vicinity of Rmeish.

According to reports from Beirut by Al Jazeera's Zeina Khodr, the UN observers and translator were conducting a foot patrol near the blue line, the demarcation line between Lebanon and Israel, when the explosion occurred. This incident adds to the escalating tensions in the region, which has seen a protracted conflict spanning six months between Israel and Hezbollah.

Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati expressed condemnation of the "targeting" of UN personnel in a statement from his office after speaking with UNIFIL commander Aroldo Lozaro.

The conflict between Israel and Lebanon has resulted in casualties on both sides, including nearly 270 Hezbollah fighters and approximately 50 civilians, including children, medics, and journalists. UNIFIL itself has not been spared, with instances of its patrols being targeted in the past, including gunfire incidents.

UNIFIL, established in 1978 to oversee the withdrawal of Israeli forces following their invasion of Lebanon in response to a Palestinian attack, has played a crucial role in maintaining peace in the region. With approximately 10,000 peacekeepers, it monitors the ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel, a responsibility heightened after the 2006 conflict between the two sides.