The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has said its peacekeepers have withdrawn from a post near the southern Lebanese village of Dhayra after being fired upon by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers earlier this week, National Herald reports.
According to a UNIFIL statement dated 25 October, Friday, the incident occurred on Tuesday when peacekeepers at a permanent observation post were monitoring IDF soldiers conducting house-clearing operations nearby.
Upon realising they were being observed, the IDF opened fire on the post, prompting the peacekeepers to withdraw to ensure their safety, Xinhua news agency reported. The statement added that the IDF has repeatedly demanded that UNIFIL vacate its positions along the Blue Line (a demarcation line dividing Lebanon from Israel and the Golan Heights) and has deliberately damaged camera, lighting, and communications equipment at some of these positions.
Over the past few weeks, Israeli forces have attacked UNIFIL positions in Lebanon several times, causing injuries among peacekeepers and sparking criticism from the international community.
Meanwhile, the IDF on Saturday announced the successful completion of “precise and targeted strikes” against multiple military targets in Iran that posed an immediate threat to Israel.
On Wednesday morning, two medic teams transferring a patient in the southern village of Yarin came under fire of unknown origin, resulting in one vehicle being immobilised and left at the scene, UNIFIL said.