DID Press: UN Secretary-General António Guterres has strongly condemned a deadly attack in southern Lebanon, warning that targeting peacekeeping forces may amount to a war crime.
According to Stéphane Dujarric, the killing of a French peacekeeper serving with the UNIFIL prompted urgent calls from the UN chief for an immediate halt to attacks against peacekeepers.
Dujarric stated in New York that Guterres has urged all parties involved in the region to respect ceasefire obligations and refrain from any actions targeting UN peacekeeping personnel.
He emphasized that attacks on UNIFIL represent a serious breach of international law and, in certain circumstances, could constitute war crimes. He added that peacekeepers’ safety must be respected at all times and that there can be no justification for targeting them.
The statement followed confirmation by French President Emmanuel Macron that a French soldier serving with UNIFIL was killed and three others were injured. Macron suggested preliminary indications pointed to Hezbollah as responsible, an allegation the group has denied.
UN spokesperson Dujarric also noted that UNIFIL’s own assessment aligns with France’s initial evaluation, though formal investigations into the incident are still ongoing.
The UNIFIL has been deployed in southern Lebanon since 1978, primarily tasked with monitoring the border area between Lebanon and Israel and maintaining regional stability.