Several rounds struck a United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) position near Kfar Shouba on the border with Israel. No peacekeepers were injured, the mission said.
The incident happened on Wednesday morning near the Blue Line, the UN-demarcated boundary between Lebanon and Israel. Peacekeepers took shelter after the first shots, UNIFIL said. Most of the rounds struck the position’s perimeter wall, while others hit accommodation units and UN vehicles.
The mission said continued firing toward a clearly marked UN position put peacekeepers at serious risk. It has opened an investigation and reminded all parties of their duty to protect UN personnel and property. UNIFIL said an attack on peacekeepers could constitute a grave violation of international humanitarian law and Security Council Resolution 1701.
UNIFIL was created in 1978 to oversee the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon. Its mandate was expanded after the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah. The mission now has about 7,500 peacekeepers from roughly 50 countries.
The Security Council has decided that UNIFIL’s mandate will end on December 31. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam urged the United Nations last month to avert a security vacuum in the south and find a viable replacement for the mission.