The UN is urging authorities successful Lebanon to behaviour a speedy and thorough probe into an onslaught earlier this week against peacekeepers maintaining information and stableness successful the southbound of the country.
The ‘blue helmets’ were attacked connected Tuesday nighttime by chartless perpetrators. Their UN vehicles were vandalized and authoritative items were stolen.
‘Disinformation’
“Contrary to immoderate consequent media disinformation, the peacekeepers were not taking photos and were not connected backstage property. They were connected their mode to conscionable Lebanese Armed Forces colleagues for a regular patrol,” UN Spokesman Stéphane Dujarric told reporters successful New York connected Thursday.
The peacekeepers are deployed with the UN Interim Force successful Lebanon (UNIFIL)., primitively established successful 1978 to corroborate Israeli withdrawal from the country.
The ngo was greatly reinforced aft warring successful 2006 to oversee the cessation of hostilities betwixt Israel and the Lebanese militant radical Hezbollah.
Freedom of movement
Mr. Dujarric said the denial of UNIFIL’s state of movement, and immoderate aggression against those serving the origin of peace, is unacceptable and violates the Status of Forces Agreement betwixt the UN and the Lebanese Government.
UN Security Council Resolution 1701, adopted successful 2006, requires that the mission must person afloat and unimpeded entree passim its country of operations, helium added.
“We’re calling connected each acrophobic parties to respect peacekeepers’ state of movement, which is captious to fulfilling UNIFIL’s mandate nether Resolution 1701 and telephone connected the Lebanese authorities to analyse rapidly and thoroughly, and prosecute each those liable for these crimes.”
Last month, UN Secretary-General António Guterres conducted an authoritative sojourn to Lebanon, wherever helium affirmed solidarity with the people.
The state continues to look galore challenges, including political upheaval, an economical and fiscal crisis, and the devastating impacts of the August 2020 detonation astatine the larboard successful the capital, Beirut.
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