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UN peacekeeper killed, two wounded in Hezbollah shelling in Lebanon

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • A Serbian UN peacekeeper died from wounds sustained when mortar shells hit his position in southeastern Lebanon, marking the seventh peacekeeper killed since March.
  • Two other peacekeepers, from El Salvador and Spain, were wounded in the same incident near Marjayoun.
  • Hezbollah rejected a new ceasefire, while Israel stated it would not withdraw troops, complicating US efforts to halt the fighting.

A Serbian UN peacekeeper serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) died on Thursday from injuries sustained when mortar shells struck his position late Wednesday night. This incident marks the seventh peacekeeper killed in Lebanon since March.

The soldier, Sergeant Milovan Jovanovic of Serbia's 27th Mechanized Battalion, was near Marjayoun in southeastern Lebanon. Two other peacekeepers, one from El Salvador and another from Spain, were wounded in the attack. UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric condemned the killing, calling it a grave violation of international humanitarian law that may amount to war crimes.

We reiterate that attacks on peacekeepers must stop. They are grave violations of international humanitarian law and... may amount to war crimes.

— Stephane DujarricCondemning the attack on UN peacekeepers and highlighting its severity.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed condemnation and stressed the need for attacks on peacekeepers to cease. The incident is under investigation, but initial assessments indicate the position was hit by indirect fire originating from north of the Litani River.

Hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel reignited on March 2. The situation remains tense as Hezbollah rejected a new ceasefire proposal on Thursday, and Israel indicated it would not withdraw its troops, potentially undermining US President Donald Trump's peace initiatives in the region. Guterres has emphasized the necessity of a continued UN presence in Lebanon as UNIFIL's mandate approaches its year-end expiration.

Those responsible must be held to account.

— Stephane DujarricDemanding accountability for the perpetrators of the attack.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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