New York [US], November 9: The United Nations officially lodged a protest with Israel today after two excavators and a bulldozer belonging to the Israeli military destroyed part of a fence and a concrete structure at a site belonging to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in the Ras Al Naqoura area.
In a statement, UNIFIL confirmed that the deliberate and direct destruction of clearly marked UNIFIL property by the Israeli military constitutes a blatant violation of international law and UN Security Council Resolution 1701.
The statement noted that, in response to the urgent UN protest, the Israeli army denied conducting any activity within the UNIFIL site.
The UN statement reiterated the obligations of the Israeli military and all parties to ensure the safety and security of UN personnel and property and to respect the inviolability of its premises at all times.
It also highlighted that since 30th September, the Israeli military has repeatedly requested peacekeepers to vacate their positions near the Blue Line "for their safety." The statement added that the Israeli military has deliberately and directly carried out seven similar actions against UN facilities in Lebanon, similar to yesterday's incident.
The statement expressed concern over the intentional destruction and removal of two blue barrels by the Israeli army this week, which mark the UN-drawn withdrawal line between Lebanon and Israel (the Blue Line). It mentioned that peacekeepers witnessed the Israeli military directly removing one of the barrels.
The statement reaffirmed that, despite unacceptable pressures from Israel through various channels, the peacekeepers will continue to carry out their monitoring and reporting duties as mandated by Resolution 1701.
Source: Emirates News Agency