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UN peacekeeper attacked during patrol in Lebanon – JURIST

The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) reported on Thursday an injury sustained by one of its peacekeeper’s during a patrol mission the same day. The peacekeeper was reportedly attacked by local male villagers in a Tabyeh, an area in southern Lebanon. UNIFIL claimed that the attack on a peacekeeper was a clear violation of Resolution 1701, which was adopted by the UN Security in 2006 to help the Lebanese government exert control over its territory and deescalate hostilities following Hezbollah’s attack on Israel in July 2006.Following the attack, UNIFIL said, “We call on the Lebanese authorities to undertake a full and swift investigation, and for all perpetrators to be brought to justice. Our peacekeepers remain on task, and we will continue our essential monitoring and de-escalation work.”UNIFIL was created by the UN Security Council in 1978 after Israel attacked Southern Lebanon. The force has stayed there intermittently ever since, with it strength and force being increased following Resolution 1701 in 2006. UNIFIL is responsible for mine clearance, communication between parties and supporting the civilians on the ground, among other humanitarian concerns. UNIFIL was recently renewed in August amidst demands from the Lebanese government to curtail its freedom. While these demands were not fully met in the Security Council’s resolution, the new resolution did dictate that UNIFIL should “coordinate with the Lebanese government.”This is not the first time in recent memory that a UNIFIL peacekeeper has been injured. In November, a peacekeeper was injured by Israeli gunfire in Southern Lebanon according to an announcement released on X (formerly Twitter). Another attack on a peacekeeper was reported in October as Israeli and Hezbollah militants exchanged fire.