France, Italy and Spain Condemn Targeting of UNIFIL by Israel

Two UN peacekeepers were injured on Friday by an Israeli strike near their watchtower in south Lebanon, the Israeli military said, while blasts shook the peacekeepers' main base in the area for the second time in 48 hours.

France, Italy, and Spain, the largest European contributors to UNIFIL in terms of personnel, in a joint statement expressed "outrage" after several peacekeepers were hit at UNIFIL's main base in Naqoura, Reuters reported.

"These attacks constitute serious violation of the obligations of Israel under UNSCR (United Nations Security Council Resolution) 1701 and under humanitarian international law," the statement said.

"We recall that all peacekeepers must be protected and reiterate our praise for the continued and indispensable commitment of UNIFIL troops/personnel in this very challenging context," it added, calling for "an immediate ceasefire."