As UN peacekeepers come under fire, India backs joint statement against Israeli action

Two UN peacekeepers from Sri Lanka were wounded in an Israeli strike Friday near their watchtower in Naqoura in south Lebanon, Israel’s military said, while blasts shook the peacekeepers’ main base in the area for the second time in 48 hours as Israeli forces battled the Hezbollah.

The UNIFIL force called it a “serious development” and said the security of UN personnel and property must be guaranteed.

The force has more than 10,000 peacekeepers from dozens of countries, and Indian troops account for the second largest number with about 900 personnel serving there.

The joint statement by the troop contributing countries “strongly condemned” the attacks on the UNIFIL peacekeepers and said that “such actions must stop immediately” and “should be adequately investigated”.

While the 34 troop contributing countries had put out the statement at 7.01 pm IST, the Indian statement “aligning” itself with the statement came an hour-and-half later at 8.35 pm IST.

This statement also reflects India’s disquiet over Israel’s actions targeting the UN forces — a very different position from its balancing act, and support for Israel’s actions against Hamas and Hezbollah over the last one year, especially in the last few months.

On Friday, India expressed concern over the “deteriorating” security situation amid reports that UN peacekeepers have been caught in the intensified fighting in southern Lebanon.

“We are concerned at the deteriorating security situation along the Blue Line. We continue to monitor the situation closely,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.

The 120-km Blue Line is a UN-recognised demarcation line indicating withdrawal of Israeli military from southern Lebanon. It separates Lebanon from Israel and the Golan Heights, but it is not an official international border.

“Inviolability of UN premises must be respected by all, and appropriate measures taken to ensure the safety of UN peacekeepers and the sanctity of their mandate,” the MEA said.

On October 10, the UNIFIL said that “recent escalation along the Blue Line is causing widespread destruction of towns and villages in south Lebanon”.

“In the past days, we have seen incursions from Israel into Lebanon in Naqoura and other areas. Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers have clashed with Hizbullah elements on the ground in Lebanon,” it said in a statement.

Defending Israeli military actions, Israel’s  Ambassador to India Reuven Azar said Friday that Hezbollah was firing at Israel close to UNIFIL posts, using the peacekeepers as a shield. “Lebanese Hizbollah is firing at Israel in proximity to UNIFIL outposts, criminally using them as a shield. Israel will continue to take measures to safeguard UN forces and coordinate with all responsible stakeholders necessary steps to keep their safety,” he said in a post on X.