EU slams Israeli attacks on UN peacekeepers in S. Lebanon

BEIRUT, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) — The European Union (EU) expressed on Monday its grave concern about the recent escalation along the Lebanon-Israel border area and the Israeli attacks against UN peacekeepers.
“Such attacks against UN peacekeepers constitute a grave violation of international law and are totally unacceptable. These attacks must stop immediately,” EU’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, said in a statement quoted by the EU delegation to Lebanon.
In the statement by the high representative of the EU for foreign affairs and security policy, Borrell said “all actors must take necessary measures to ensure the safety and security of UN personnel,” adding that the EU awaits investigations from the Israeli authorities into the attacks against the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon.
Borrell also emphasized the need for Hezbollah to stop its attacks against Israel.
“We are also deeply concerned by Hezbollah’s continued launch of rockets into Israel that has to stop, and by IDF (the Israel Defense Forces) strikes in densely populated areas of Lebanon, causing a heavy toll on civilians and the displacement of many,” it said, urging all parties to respect international humanitarian law in all circumstances.
Over the past few days, Israeli forces have attacked the UN peacekeepers in Lebanon for several times, causing several injuries and sparking criticism by the international community.
Since Oct. 8, 2023, Hezbollah and the Israeli army have been exchanging fire across the Lebanese-Israeli border amid fears of a broader conflict as the war between Hamas and Israel continues in the Gaza Strip. ■