Unknown persons open fire on UN soldiers in Lebanon

UN blue helmet soldiers targeted

In southern Lebanon there was an attack on UN blue helmet soldiers, according to the United Nations. The incident occurred when the soldiers of the UN peacekeeping mission Unifil came across a hidden cache of ammunition during a patrol near the village of Kalauija.

While the soldiers briefly left their vehicle to clear debris from the road, two or three unidentified men opened fire. About 30 shots were fired as the soldiers tried to get back into their vehicle. The blue helmets returned fire from their vehicle. Fortunately, there were no casualties or damage.

Lack of clarity about the motives

The link between the shelling and the discovered ammunition cache remains unclear, according to Unifil. The UN observers emphasized that attacks on peacekeepers are a violation of international law and Resolution 1701. The Lebanese authorities have been asked to thoroughly investigate the incident.