A statement issued by the International Emergency Forces Media Office said on Sunday that a UNIFIL patrol including French and Finnish peacekeepers was “targeted from behind” by about 40 bullets while carrying out its duties in the village of Badiyas, south of Lebanon, on Saturday afternoon.

The statement, which was reported by Al-Hurra’s correspondent, suggested that the launches were likely to have been issued by individuals affiliated with non-governmental entities, which called on the patrol commander to expedite the exit from the area while maintaining the planned route.

The statement pointed out that some patrol vehicles were hit by bullets, without any injuries among the peacekeepers.

The statement added that it is unacceptable that UNIFIL peacekeepers are routinely targeted while carrying out the tasks assigned to them by the Security Council.

He explained that the incident serves as a new stark reminder of the dangerous situation in which peacekeepers work daily in southern Lebanon, calling on the Lebanese authorities to assume their responsibilities to ensure that UNIFIL peacekeepers are facilitated in carrying out the tasks assigned to them, without fear or threat.< /p>

In its statement, UNIFIL reminded all actors involved in the ongoing hostilities across the Blue Line to avoid exposing their soldiers to danger.

The Blue Line is a dividing line drawn by the United Nations in 2000 to confirm the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon. It is not an official border, but it is used to determine the border situation between Lebanon and Israel.

The statement continued that any attack against peacekeepers constitutes a flagrant violation of international laws and Resolution 1701, which forms the basis of UNIFIL’s current mandate.

UNIFIL confirmed that despite these challenges, peacekeepers remain in all locations, and will continue to monitor violations of Resolution 1701 and report them impartially.

Last October, at least 40 countries expressed their “full” support for the UNIFIL force, demanding the protection of its members after a number of them were injured.

These countries contributing to UNIFIL said, “We strongly condemn the recent attacks against peacekeepers. Such actions must stop immediately and be properly investigated,” according to what was stated in a message published by the account of the Polish mission to the United Nations