A United Nations’ UNIFIL peacekeeping mission spokesperson said today that the 10,000-strong force would remain in Lebanon despite several direct attacks, some of which he described as deliberate, by the Israeli military in recent days.
“We need to stay, they asked us to move,” UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti said by video link from Beirut. He added that morale among peacekeepers, several of whom have been injured by the attacks, remained high.
Asked about the possible use of self-defense against Israel, Tenenti said it could be used but it was important to deconflict tensions.
“The devastation and destruction of many villages along the Blue Line, and even beyond, is shocking,” he said, referring to a U.N.-mapped demarcation separating Lebanon from Israel and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.
Asked about the downing of a drone near its ship off the Lebanese coast yesterday, he said: “The drone was coming from the south but circling around the ship and getting very, very close, a few meters away from the ship.”
Tenenti also said that UNIFIL has found traces of the possible use of white phosphorous near one of its bases several months ago. White phosphorous is an incendiary weapon, and its indiscriminate use is a potential violation of international humanitarian law.
