Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has urgently requested UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres to remove the United Nations Interim Force (UNIFIL) stationed in southern lebanon from danger. He made this statement in a recent video statement. Netanyahu said, "I appeal directly to the UN Secretary General. It is now necessary to remove UNIFIL from Hezbollah's strongholds and fighting areas." Netanyahu also repeated this message in English, "Mr. Secretary General, remove UNIFIL forces from danger, this must be done immediately."
Two peacekeepers injured in IDF shelling
In two recent incidents, two UNIFIL peacekeepers were injured in Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) shelling. On friday, october 11, two peacekeepers were injured in an Israeli attack near an observer tower located near UNIFIL's main base Naqoura. In addition, Israeli bulldozers demolished barriers near the UN position. Netanyahu said that keeping peacekeepers at their location serves as a human shield for Hezbollah. He said that due to this the danger has increased for both peacekeepers and Israeli soldiers.
Criticism from US and european countries
The US and european countries have appealed to israel to take necessary steps to keep peacekeepers safe, although Netanyahu said that european leaders are putting pressure at the wrong place. Netanyahu said, "Their focus should be on Hezbollah, which uses peacekeepers as human shields." Ireland's Defense Forces Chief General Sean Clancy said on friday that the tank shelling on the observer tower was deliberate. He said, "It was direct shelling on a very small target, which cannot be considered a coincidence."
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