No EU Country Supports Withdrawing UNIFIL from Lebanon: Borell
Israeli shelling in the eastern sector of the UNFPA area of operations, Oct. 13, 2024. Photo: Xinhua
October 15, 2024 Hour: 7:19 am
Over the weekend Israeli forces attacked one of UNIFIL’s positions, injuring at least 15 peacekeepers.
On Monday, European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said that none of the 27 European Union member states are in favour of withdrawing the United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon (UNIFIL).
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“Here today, no member state was in favour of withdrawing UNIFIL. They have to stay. And if they have to stay, they have to stay in security,” Borrell said at a meeting of EU foreign ministers.
“Today ministers reiterated their full support to UNIFIL,” Borrell added, saying it is up to the UN Security Council to decide if UNIFIL stays or leaves.
On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged the United Nations to withdraw UNIFIL from combat areas in Lebanon, saying that it acts as a human shield for Hezbollah.
Since Sept. 23, the Israeli army has been launching intensive air attack on Lebanon in a dangerous escalation of its conflict with Hezbollah. In early October the army began a ground campaign, targeting Hezbollah positions in Southern Lebanon.
Over the weekend UNIFIL said Israeli forces attacked one of UNIFIL’s positions, destroying the main gate and mildly injuring at least 15 soldiers. “Such attacks against UN peacekeepers constitute a grave violation of international law, are totally unacceptable, and must stop immediately,” the EU’s Foreign Affairs Council said.
UNIFIL is a peacekeeping mission that was established by the United Nations Security Council in 1978, following Israel’s first invasion into southern Lebanon. It has around 10,000 peacekeepers from 50 contributing countries, including 418 peacekeepers from China.
teleSUR/ JF Source: Xinhua
