Israeli forces shelled a UN peacekeeping post in the town of Naqoura in southern Lebanon, injuring two people, according to the United Nations.
This is not the first such incident in Lebanon; yesterday, Israel shelled another UNIFIL peacekeeping post, resulting in injuries to two Indonesian soldiers.
Paweł Wroński stated that our contingent is located in an area where there are no active combat operations or shelling, but incidents do occur.
"Our soldiers are safe, but it cannot be said that the situation in the region between Israel and Lebanon is stable. There are ongoing clashes and exchanges of fire," the spokesperson for the Ministry of Diplomacy summarized.
Israel asserts that its targets were Hamas militants rather than the headquarters of the Blue Helmets. Earlier, Israel requested the repositioning of UN forces, but this demand was firmly rejected.
UN peacekeeping forces in Lebanon: 10,000 troops, including 250 Poles
The base of the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in Ebel El Saqi Marjeyoun District, southern Lebanon, 10 October 2024. Two peacekeepers sustained non-serious injuries but remain in hospital after an Israeli tank fired toward an observation tower at UNIFIL's headquarters in Naqoura, directly hitting it and causing them to fall. Israeli soldiers also fired on UN position (UNP) in Labbouneh and 'deliberately fired at and disabled' the position's perimeter-monitoring cameras in separate incidents, UNIFIL added (Photo: PAP/EPA/STRINGER)
250 Poles are part of the approximately 10,000 UN peacekeeping soldiers stationed in Lebanon, tasked with monitoring the Israeli-Lebanese border and ensuring regional stability.
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has been present in Lebanon since 1978, operating under a Security Council resolution and currently comprising around 10,000 troops and 800 civilians from 50 countries, including a Polish Military Contingent of 250 personnel.
Their main goal is to monitor the Israeli-Lebanese border and supporting the enforcement of resolutions that require the withdrawal of all armed groups from southern Lebanon, an area largely controlled by Hezbollah, which poses security threats to northern Israel.
Poland concerned over Israel's actions against UNRWA, reaffirms support
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also notes that Israel's actions targeting the UN Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) are deeply concerning.
The organization's role in humanitarian efforts across conflict zones in the Middle East is undeniable, and Poland remains a committed donor to the Agency, emphasized the Polish Foreign Ministry.
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Source: IAR/PAP/MSZ/UNIFIL
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