The Israeli army is said to have opened fire on UN soldiers

According to a Lebanese agency report, a UNIFIL mission site, in which Austrians also participate, was fired upon by the Israeli army. Two UN soldiers are said to have been injured.

According to official media reports, Israeli military forces bombed a site belonging to the United Nations monitoring mission UNIFIL in Lebanon. The Lebanese National News Agency reported on Thursday that the attack occurred near Naqoura in the southern border region. The National News Agency did not provide further details or information about the potential victims. The Israeli army did not initially comment. An informed source at the United Nations said that two UNIFIL members were injured, but not seriously.

The source said that Israeli forces fired a tank shell at a watchtower belonging to the United Nations peacekeeping forces. This is one of three cases that occurred during the past 24 hours in which peacekeeping sites were exposed to Israeli fire. Two UNIFIL members were injured when shots were fired at the control tower at the force's main base in Naqoura. Naqoura is the first major town close to the dividing line between Israel and Lebanon. The headquarters of the UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) mission is also located here.

There was initially no official confirmation from the UN mission itself or from the Israeli army. Federal Army soldiers also participate in UNIFIL. UN sources said that two other incidents occurred between UNIFIL forces and Israel on Wednesday and Thursday. There were no victims.

Ground attack for a week

The Israeli army began a ground offensive in Lebanon a week ago and says it is fighting against the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia there. At the same time, the risk of possible clashes with the Lebanese Army and UN soldiers is increasing. The United Nations mission has been monitoring the border area for decades.

A few days ago, the UN mission expressed its “deep concern” about Israeli military activities “in the immediate vicinity” of one of its sites. It was referring to an attack that occurred near Maroun al-Ras, located in the border area east of Ras Naqoura.

10,000 soldiers from more than 40 countries

Austria has been part of UNIFIL since 2011. The mission, one of the oldest active missions within the UN, includes a total of about 10,000 soldiers and 800 civilians from more than 40 countries. More than 300 peacekeepers have died since the mission began.

About 170 soldiers from Austria are responsible for planning and implementing transfer operations as part of UNIFIL. In 2006, during a similar Israeli attack, four UN soldiers were killed in the bombing of an observation post in southern Lebanon, including Austrian Major Hans Peter Lange. (APA/DPA/Reuters)