India on Saturday weighed in on the safety and security of UN peacekeepers after United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) posts came under attack by Israeli forces amid its ongoing conflict with Hezbollah.
In a post on X, the Indian Mission to the UN highlighted that as a major troop-contributing country, it fully aligns itself with the joint statement issued by 34 countries supporting UNIFIL.
“As a major Troop Contributing Country, India aligns itself fully with the joint statement issued by the 34 @UNIFIL_ troop-contributing countries,” the X post read. “Safety and security of peacekeepers are of paramount importance and must be ensured in accordance with extant UNSC Resolutions,” it added.
Earlier, India had expressed its concern over the Israeli firing on UN peacekeepers which includes nearly 600 Indian soldiers.
As a major Troop Contributing Country, India aligns itself fully with the joint statement issued by the 34 @UNIFIL_ troop contributing countries. Safety and security of peacekeepers are of paramount importance and must be ensured in accordance with extant UNSC Resolutions.
— India at UN, NY (@IndiaUNNewYork) October 12, 2024
The Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement expressing concern over the “deteriorating security situation along the Blue Line. We continue to monitor the situation closely.”
“Inviolability of UN premises must be respected by all, and appropriate measures are taken to ensure the safety of UN peacekeepers and the sanctity of their mandate,” it said.
The statement came as the Israeli military acknowledged on Friday a “hit” by its forces on a United Nations peacekeeping position in Lebanon. Two peacekeepers from Sri Lanka were injured in the incident which took place for the consecutive second day. On Thursday, two Indonesian soldiers of the UNIFIL were injured after they fell from an observation tower as an Israeli tank fired towards it.
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon was created by the Security Council in March 1978 following Israel’s “invasion” of Lebanon.
The UN peacekeeping mission has been operating along the Israel-Lebanon border since the 1970s. The UN Security Council renewed its mandate in August for another year.
