Israel-Lebanon Conflict: Amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, India on Friday said that it is closely monitoring the situation in Lebanon after two United Nations (UN) peacekeepers in the country's south sustained injuries in the Israeli attack. In a statement, the MEA said, “We are concerned at the deteriorating security situation along the Blue Line. We continue to monitor the situation closely."

“Inviolability of UN premises must be respected by all, and appropriate measures taken to ensure the safety of UN peacekeepers and the sanctity of their mandate,” the statement read.

The MEA statement comes a day after the UN stated that its Naqoura headquarters in Lebanon and nearby positions were repeatedly hit by Israeli forces. "This morning, two peacekeepers were injured after an IDF Merkava tank fired its weapon toward an observation tower at UNIFIL’s headquarters in Naqoura, directly hitting it and causing them to fall," the UN said in a statement. 

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon emphasised that the attack on peacekeepers is a “grave violation of international humanitarian law.” It also said that Israel had ‘deliberately’ fired at its positions along the border.

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Indonesia confirmed that at least two Indonesian peacemakers, working at UNIFIL, sustained injuries in the Israeli attack. “Attacking UN personnel and property is a major violation of International Humanitarian Law,” said Minister for Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi.

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Israel’s Response

Israel’s military clarified that its troops fired near a UNIFIL base after directing UN forces in the area to stay in secure locations. The military stated that Hezbollah fighters are active in and around civilian areas in southern Lebanon, including near UNIFIL posts. They emphasized that Israel is operating in south Lebanon and maintains regular communication with UNIFIL.