UNIFIL rejects Israel evacuation orders from southern Lebanon

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has rejected orders from the Israeli occupation army to evacuate posts along the border between Lebanon and Israel, an official told Israel’s Walla news site.

UNIFIL spokesman Andrea Tanti said Israel requested UNIFIL pull back its forces five kilometres away from the border but the countries contributing troops to the force have decided not to leave their positions.

“UN observers remain in all positions and despite the challenges, we continue to monitor the situation, although the ongoing shelling limits our ability to monitor and provide humanitarian aid to Lebanese citizens,” Tanti added.

The safety and security of UN observers is a top priority, he said, stressing that all parties involved in the fighting must ensure this.

Tensions have escalated over the week between Israel and UNIFIL and between Israel and the countries contributing troops to the force including Italy, Ireland and France, following several incidents in which the Israeli occupation forces fired at UNIFIL positions.

UNIFIL said earlier in the day that its headquarters in the southern Lebanese city of Naqoura and two nearby sites had been struck by Israeli forces.

An Israeli Merkava tank fired on an observation tower yesterday, striking it directly and causing two peacekeepers to fall; they were hospitalised after suffering minor injuries, UNIFIL said in a statement.

Following the attack, the Italian Foreign Ministry summoned the Israeli ambassador in Rome.

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