On a statement released here, the entity warned of recent blasts against its headquarters in Naqoura, which had been hit for the second time in the last 48 hours.

This is a serious development, the text added, recalling that on Thursday, two of its staff were wounded in that area by the Israel Defense Forces.

Any deliberate attack on peacekeepers is a serious violation of international humanitarian law and of Security Council Resolution 1701, which approved UNIFIL’s mandate as guardian of the Blue Line separating Lebanon from Israel, the press release referred.

On Thursday, the mission condemned Israeli incursions in Naqoura and other areas, as well as attacks on the headquarters of the peacekeeping force there.

According to a separate statement, two peacekeepers were injured after an IDF Merkava tank fired at an observation tower at UNIFIL headquarters. Both remain in hospital although their injuries are not serious.

According to UN Peace Operations’ head Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the blue helmets face a high risk on the ground while carrying out their mandate.

“The safety and security of the forces are increasingly at risk,” as “the safeguards afforded by international law to UN facilities and personnel are not respected,” the senior official said on Thursday during an emergency meeting of the Security Council.

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