An Israeli army bulldozer deliberately demolished a United Nations observation tower and fence in Marwahin, a town in southern Lebanon’s Tyre district, according to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) on Sunday. The tower, located near the volatile border, was part of UNIFIL’s monitoring mission aimed at maintaining peace between Lebanon and Israel.
In a statement, UNIFIL condemned the act, reminding the Israeli army and all parties involved of their duty to ensure the safety of UN personnel and respect the inviolability of UN premises. The force stated that the destruction violated international law and UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which governs the ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel.
Despite repeated requests from the Israeli army for UNIFIL to vacate positions along the “Blue Line,” the UN peacekeepers remain in place, continuing their mission. UNIFIL emphasized that damaging UN property not only breaches international law but endangers the peacekeepers stationed there.
Israel’s recent actions have drawn sharp criticism, as its military has targeted UNIFIL headquarters and personnel during escalated tensions following clashes with Hezbollah. This comes after Israel expanded its military campaign into Lebanon, resulting in over 2,460 deaths and thousands of injuries, with significant displacement across the country, especially after September 23.
This article is originally published on yenisafak.com
