India Condemns Attack on French UN Peacekeepers in Lebanon
India's Strong Condemnation of the Attack
On Saturday, India expressed its strong condemnation regarding the fatal attack on a French soldier who was part of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in South Lebanon. The incident, which occurred in the village of Ghandouriyeh, also resulted in injuries to three other UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) soldiers, as reported by the UN. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated, "We firmly denounce the assault on French UN Peacekeepers serving in UNIFIL. We honor the memory of the fallen Blue Helmet and wish a swift recovery to the injured peacekeepers." Furthermore, India has been instrumental in advocating for UN Security Council Resolution 2589, which addresses accountability for crimes against peacekeepers.
The MEA urged the Lebanese government to promptly investigate the incident, hold the perpetrators accountable, and ensure justice for this crime against UN personnel. The ministry reiterated the necessity of upholding the sanctity and safety of UN missions and called on all involved parties to protect the peacekeepers deployed under UN Security Council mandates.
French President Points to Hezbollah
French President Blames Hezbollah
In response to the attack, French President Emmanuel Macron, along with the UNIFIL force, attributed the blame to Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed militant group, although Hezbollah has denied any involvement. Macron stated on social media, "All evidence points to Hezbollah being responsible for this attack." He further demanded that Lebanese authorities take immediate action to apprehend those accountable and fulfill their responsibilities alongside UNIFIL.
This incident occurred shortly after a 10-day ceasefire was established between Israel and Hezbollah, which took effect at midnight on Thursday. The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah reignited on March 2, following a series of rocket attacks launched by Hezbollah into Israel, in retaliation for joint US-Israel strikes against Iran that resulted in the deaths of high-ranking officials, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The conflict has led to significant casualties, with nearly 2,300 fatalities in Lebanon, over 1 million displaced individuals, and extensive destruction across the region.
With inputs from various sources