Israel has acknowledged it struck the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) headquarters in Naqoura, southern Lebanon, resulting in injuries to two peacekeepers who were transferred to hospitals in Lebanon. UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti informed that one of the peacekeepers was seriously injured in the explosion, the second to hit the headquarters in 48 hours, after being hit in the stomach by shrapnel.
The Israel Defense Forces stated that its soldiers identified an immediate threat against them and responded with fire toward the threat. The IDF had instructed UNIFIL personnel to enter protected spaces and remain there, which was in place at the time of the incident.
Concern was mounting for the safety of peacekeepers in southern Lebanon after Israeli troops were accused of injuring two UNIFIL personnel in a separate incident on Thursday. UNIFIL reported that several concrete walls used to shield a UN position near the Blue Line in the southwest village of Labbouneh collapsed when an Israeli armored bulldozer struck its perimeter, followed by IDF tanks moving in the proximity of the UN position.
In a statement, the IDF mentioned that two peacekeepers were inadvertently hurt during IDF combat against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. The injuries to UN troops have sparked international condemnation, including from France and Ireland, both of which have contingents from their national armies in the Lebanon peacekeeping mission. France's foreign ministry summoned the Israeli ambassador to Paris over the issue.
