The United Nations Interim Drive in Lebanon (UNIFIL) says eight of its peacekeepers have been injured after a rocket, doubtless fired by Hezbollah or an affiliated group, hit its headquarters in southern Lebanon.
“A rocket hit the UNIFIL headquarters in Naqoura, setting a car workshop on hearth,” the drive mentioned in a press release on Tuesday, including that “it was fired from the north of the UNIFIL headquarters, most likely by Hezbollah or a gaggle affiliate”.
Austria’s Federal Protection Ministry mentioned the assault injured Austrian troopers with drive, condemning the assault, including that “it’s presently not doable to say the place the assault got here from.”
“Eight Austrian military troopers from the UNIFIL contingent have been injured at this time at 12:58 p.m. [10:58 GMT] as a result of impression of a rocket within the Naqoura Camp; None of them severely,” the assertion mentioned.
The accidents have been “minor and superficial,” and not one of the troopers, who’re members of a restore platoon, required emergency medical consideration, the assertion added.
“We condemn this assault within the strongest doable phrases and demand that it’s investigated instantly,” Protection Minister Klaudia Tanner mentioned within the assertion.
“All events are known as upon to right away guarantee the security of all UN peacekeepers. UN peacekeepers can not and won’t be tolerated to be intentionally or inadvertently endangered,” he added.
Austria contributes about 180 troopers to the ten,000-strong drive. They’re a part of a “Multifunction Logistics Unit” that performs capabilities comparable to transportation of products and personnel, car restore, gas provide and firefighting.
UNIFIL has confronted a collection of assaults on its peacekeepers in current weeks. The Israeli authorities has demanded that UNIFIL abandon its positions in southern Lebanon, however the UN maintains that the mission goes nowhere.
“There isn’t a management vacuum”
UNIFIL positions have been attacked not less than 20 instances since Israel’s floor incursion into Lebanon started in early October, together with by direct hearth and an incident on October 13 when two Israeli tanks burst by the gates of a base. of UNIFIL, based on the UN. Israeli forces have additionally fired on a number of UNIFIL front-line positions.
Israel and Hezbollah have been exchanging hearth for the reason that Lebanese armed group fired rockets in direction of Israel on October 8, 2023, in what it mentioned was “solidarity” with Palestinians in Gaza. Israel’s navy dramatically escalated the battle final month, killing most of the group’s leaders, unleashing relentless bombardment throughout Lebanon and sending floor forces into the nation’s south.
Israel has mentioned it intends to dismantle Hezbollah infrastructure and finish cross-border assaults which have pushed tens of hundreds of individuals from their properties in northern Israel.
The assault on UN peacekeepers comes amid intense floor preventing between Hezbollah fighters and Israeli troopers in border areas after Israeli strikes within the japanese Bekaa Valley killed greater than 60 folks, based on Lebanese officers. .
Lots of the lifeless have been in Baalbek province, based on Lebanon’s Nationwide Information Company.
Baalbek Mayor Bachir Khodr described the assaults as “probably the most violent day in Baalbek for the reason that starting of the aggression.” In a submit on X, he mentioned folks have been nonetheless trapped below the rubble.
Greater than 2,700 Lebanese have been killed and one other 1.2 million displaced for the reason that escalation started.
In a press release on Tuesday, the Israeli navy claimed to have destroyed a Hezbollah “command middle” and one other bunker storing explosives in southern Lebanon.
In the meantime, Hezbollah mentioned it fired rockets and artillery at Israeli forces southeast of the southern metropolis of Khiam, the deepest the group has acknowledged Israeli forces working in Lebanon since floor operations started.
The group additionally introduced that Naim Qassem will succeed slain chief Hassan Nasrallah as secretary common of Hezbollah.
In a press release on Tuesday, Hezbollah mentioned Qassem was chosen due to his “adherence to the rules and goals of Hezbollah.”
Ali Rizk, a Beirut-based political and safety analyst, mentioned the choice reveals the group is rebuilding after the assassination of a number of senior leaders.
“This might have the impact of elevating the morale of Hezbollah supporters considerably. It will even be a message to the enemies of Hezbollah saying that there isn’t any management vacuum and that every little thing goes effectively and that Hezbollah is rebuilding,” Rizk informed Al Jazeera.
