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Serbian Peacekeeper Dies After Attack on UN Base in Lebanon
🇭🇷 Croatia /Conflict & Security

Serbian Peacekeeper Dies After Attack on UN Base in Lebanon

From Večernji List · () Croatian

Translated from Croatian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement Outcome reported
  • A Serbian soldier serving with UNIFIL in Lebanon, Senior Sergeant Milovan Jovanović, died from injuries sustained in a mortar attack on a UN base.
  • Two other international peacekeepers, from El Salvador and Spain, were also injured in the attack.
  • The incident occurred amid heightened cross-border exchanges of fire between the Israeli army and Hezbollah, and the UN has stated that intentional attacks on peacekeepers are serious violations of international law.

Senior Sergeant Milovan Jovanović, a member of the Serbian Army serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), has died from injuries sustained in a mortar attack on a UN base. The attack occurred Wednesday evening, and Jovanović passed away early Thursday morning.

Senior Sergeant Jovanović received immediate medical attention in the hospital within the base after being wounded, and was then transported by helicopter to the University Medical Center in Beirut, where he died around 4:00 AM local time.

— Serbian Ministry of DefenceThe ministry detailed the medical efforts and eventual death of the Serbian peacekeeper.

According to a statement from the Serbian Ministry of Defence, Jovanović received immediate medical attention within the base before being airlifted to the University Medical Center in Beirut, where he died around 4:00 AM local time. The ministry also noted that Jovanović, born in 1989, is survived by his wife and two young children.

Two other international peacekeepers, one from El Salvador and one from Spain, were injured in the same attack. The incident took place amidst escalating cross-border hostilities between the Israeli army in southern Lebanon and Hezbollah fighters.

Intentional attacks on peacekeepers are serious violations of international humanitarian law and Resolution 1701 of the Security Council and may constitute war crimes.

— UNIFILUNIFIL condemned the attack, highlighting its severe implications under international law.

UNIFIL stated that intentional attacks on peacekeepers constitute severe breaches of international humanitarian law and UN Security Council Resolution 1701, potentially amounting to war crimes. The UN force expressed its deepest condolences to Jovanović's family and colleagues and wished for the full and swift recovery of the injured peacekeepers.

We express our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of the peacekeeper who lost his life in the service of peace.

— UNIFILUNIFIL offered condolences following the death of Senior Sergeant Milovan Jovanović.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Večernji List in Croatian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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