BREAKING: India ‘Concerned’ Over Israeli Attack On UN Peacekeepers in Lebanon

India expressed significant concern on Friday regarding the deteriorating security situation along the Blue Line following reports of Israeli artillery fire on a United Nations peacekeeper base in southern Lebanon. The incident reportedly resulted in injuries to personnel from the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), prompting the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to release a statement emphasizing the need for the inviolability of UN premises.

“We are concerned at the deteriorating security situation along the Blue Line. We continue to monitor the situation closely,” the MEA stated. The ministry stressed that "the inviolability of UN premises must be respected by all" and called for appropriate measures to ensure the safety of UN peacekeepers and uphold the sanctity of their mandate.

This statement follows escalating international condemnation of Israeli actions targeting UN positions in Lebanon, particularly the main base of UNIFIL in Ras Naqura. Lebanon’s foreign ministry condemned what it described as an Israeli "targeting" of UNIFIL’s facilities, which reportedly left several peacekeepers injured. State media in Lebanon reported that Israeli artillery struck a UNIFIL watchtower and the command center’s main entrance, causing substantial damage. Additionally, an Israeli Merkava tank was said to have targeted another UN tower along the critical route between Tyre and Naqura.

While UNIFIL has yet to officially comment on the incident, initial reports indicate that two peacekeepers sustained injuries during Thursday’s attack.

China and Italy also reacted strongly to the escalating situation. China condemned the attack, calling for an investigation, and stated that deliberate assaults on peacekeepers violate international humanitarian law. Italy, a major contributor of troops to UNIFIL, warned that such actions "could constitute war crimes." Meanwhile, the United States expressed its "deep concern" regarding the incidents.