A peacekeeper from Indonesia was killed on Sunday and another seriously injured. They were inside their position in Ett-Taibe when a projectile exploded. On Monday, two other Indonesian peacekeepers were killed in southern Lebanon when an explosion of unknown origin hit a logistical convoy of UNIFIL, destroying their vehicle near Bani Hayyan. A third peacekeeper was seriously injured, and a fourth was also injured. “Deliberate attacks against peacekeepers constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law and UN Security Council Resolution 1701, and may amount to war crimes. The human cost of this conflict is far too high. The violence, as we have already said, must stop,” UNIFIL stated on the social network X. Incidents unacceptable “We strongly condemn these unacceptable incidents. Peacekeepers should never be targeted,” said the UN’s peace operations chief, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, at a press conference in New York on Monday. He stated that UNIFIL was investigating these incidents to determine the circumstances of these tragic events. “We remain deeply concerned about several incidents of aggressive behavior towards UNIFIL peacekeepers in recent days. All acts endangering peacekeepers must stop. All parties must fulfill their obligations to guarantee the safety and security of peacekeepers. The inviolability of UN installations must be respected,” Mr. Lacroix said. He emphasized that the UNIFIL peacekeepers “remain on the ground, carrying out tasks mandated by the Security Council, in extremely dangerous conditions.” He noted that their action was “constrained,” but they “continue to do everything in their power.” “The men and women of UNIFIL demonstrate exemplary courage and dedication to promoting international peace and security away from their homes. We express our deepest gratitude to them,” Mr. Lacroix affirmed. Possible war crimes On Sunday evening, UN Secretary-General António Guterres strongly condemned the incident that happened on the same day. He noted that it was one of many incidents that compromised the safety and security of peacekeepers. “Once again, the Secretary-General calls on all actors to respect their obligations under international law and to ensure, at all times, the safety and security of UN personnel and assets. Attacks against peacekeepers are serious violations of international humanitarian law and UN Security Council Resolution 1701 (2006) and may constitute war crimes. Those responsible will be held accountable,” said the spokesman for the UN Chief, Stéphane Dujarric, in a press statement. He specified on Monday that the peacekeeper killed on Sunday was named Fahrizal Rambe, and his seriously injured colleague was named Rico Pramudia. UNIFIL is unaware of the origin of the projectile and has opened an investigation to determine the circumstances. “No one should ever lose their life in the service of peace,” the mission stated on Sunday. “The situation is extremely volatile, extremely dangerous,” emphasized UNIFIL spokeswoman Kandice Ardiel in an interview with UN Info. UNIFIL supports the implementation of Resolution 1701, which ended hostilities between Israeli forces and Hezbollah that erupted over two decades ago. “UNIFIL peacekeepers are being subjected to aggressive behavior, intimidation, and threats. A situation that must stop immediately,” denounced Mr. Dujarric on Monday. He indicated that on Saturday, a UNIFIL convoy traveling on the coastal road near its Naqoura headquarters faced six warning shots from elements of the Israeli army stationed nearby. One of the vehicles was hit by small arms fire. On the return journey, a Merkava tank fired its main gun, with the shell exploding only 15 meters away from a vehicle belonging to the UNIFIL Quick Reaction Force convoy. The vehicle sustained minor damage but was able to continue its journey. Lebanon: Over 50 healthcare workers killed Furthermore, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported the loss of another healthcare worker in the context of the clashes in Lebanon. “The expansion of Israeli military operations in southern Lebanon has resulted in the death of another healthcare worker today,” said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in a message posted on social network X on Sunday. The paramedic was killed in a strike targeting an ambulance in the city of Bint Jbeil, while a medical warehouse at the same location was destroyed in an attack. “Before today’s strikes, WHO had confirmed that 51 Lebanese healthcare workers had been killed since March 2, including nine paramedics just yesterday,” Mr. Tedros explained. “Attacks on healthcare facilities must cease immediately. This cannot become the norm.” Iran: Heavy water reactor shut down The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) announced on Sunday that the Khondab heavy water reactor (formerly known as the Arak reactor) had suffered “serious damage” and was no longer operational. This situation follows an attack on Friday against this site in northwestern Iran, the UN agency stated in a message posted on X. “The facility contained no declared nuclear material,” the IAEA added. Involvement of Yemen Regarding Yemen, the UN is concerned about the recent decision of Houthi rebels to get involved in the Middle East conflict by launching military attacks against Israel. “We urge the Houthis to refrain from any further involvement and, on the contrary, to prioritize diplomatic and mediation efforts, notably through the UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg,” said Stéphane Dujarric on Monday. Mr. Grundberg warned over the weekend that this escalation could drag Yemen into the regional conflict, further complicating efforts to resolve the crisis in Yemen. “We remain committed to promoting a just and lasting peace in Yemen. This requires all parties to prioritize the interests of the Yemeni people and, moreover, to avoid being drawn into regional confrontation,” Mr. Dujarric added.
