Attacks on peacekeepers must end immediately – UNIFIL says after four Ghanaian soldiers injured in rocket attack in Lebanon

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has called for an immediate cessation of the attacks on its peacekeepers.

UNIFIL said any attack against the peacekeepers is a flagrant violation of international laws and resolution 1701, which forms the basis of its current mandate.

UNIFIL said this after confirming that four Ghanaian peacekeepers on duty sustained injuries as a rocket – fired most likely by non-State actors within Lebanon – hit their base “UNP 5-42” in the east of the village of Ramyah.

According to UNIFIL, the peacekeepers sustained injuries and three of them have been transferred to a hospital in Tyre for treatment.

The UNIFIL announced this on its X page.

In another incident, UNIFIL said its  Sector West Headquarters in Shama was impacted by five rockets, which struck the maintenance workshop.

Although it caused heavy damage to the workshop, no peacekeeper was injured. This was the second time this UNIFIL base was impacted by the ongoing clashes in the area in less than a week. A 155mm live artillery shell hit the base on 15 November.

“Lastly, when a UNIFIL patrol was passing through a road northeast of the village of Khirbat Silim, an armed person directly fired at the patrol. No injury is reported among the peacekeepers in this incident. UNIFIL has launched investigations into each of these incidents.

“The pattern of regular attacks – direct or indirect – against peacekeepers must end immediately. Any attack against the peacekeepers is a flagrant violation of international laws and resolution 1701, which forms the basis of UNIFIL’s current mandate.”

Despite these and other challenges, UNIFIL said, peacekeepers remain in all positions and will continue to impartially monitor and report on violations of resolution 1701.

The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF), engaged in a ground invasion of southern Lebanon against Hezbollah, attributed the rocket fire to the Lebanese armed group. However, Hezbollah has yet to comment on the incident.

The rocket was reportedly fired from an unknown location and was intended for an IDF position but fell short, landing within the Ghana Battalion’s area at UNP 5-42.

The explosion caused damage to the washroom and troop accommodations at the base, where the injured soldiers were stationed.

Four Ghanaian peacekeepers on duty sustained injuries as a rocket – fired most likely by non-State actors within Lebanon – hit their base “UNP 5-42” in the east of the village of Ramyah.

— UNIFIL (@UNIFIL_) November 19, 2024