UNIFIL to File Protest After Israeli Forces Damage Surveillance Equipment
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Beirut, April 5 (NationPress) – The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has announced its intention to submit an official protest following the destruction of surveillance cameras by Israeli soldiers at its headquarters in Naqoura.
According to UNIFIL spokesperson Candice Ardell, the Israeli troops have targeted and destroyed all cameras facing the Menghi road at the mission's general headquarters since Friday.
These cameras were specifically installed to monitor the immediate vicinity of the UNIFIL compound, ensuring the safety of its peacekeepers, Ardell emphasized.
UNIFIL has communicated its significant concerns to the Israeli army and plans to lodge a formal protest, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
This incident occurs amidst heightened regional tensions involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, along with a series of recent disruptions impacting UNIFIL positions in southern Lebanon.
Earlier on the same day, an explosion within a United Nations facility near the Adaisseh area injured three peacekeepers, two of whom sustained serious injuries, according to UNIFIL.
Spokesperson Ardell noted that the injured personnel were swiftly transported to a hospital, although the source of the explosion remains unidentified, as per Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA).
"This has been a challenging week for peacekeepers stationed in the central sector of UNIFIL's operational area. We wish all those injured a full and swift recovery," Ardell stated, according to the NNA.
She further reminded all involved parties of their responsibilities to guarantee the safety and security of peacekeepers, including refraining from combat operations nearby that could jeopardize their safety.
The incident follows several security events affecting UNIFIL positions and patrols reported in southern Lebanon in recent days amid ongoing tensions along the Blue Line.