Israel announced on April 8 that the recent two-week ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran does not extend to Lebanon, following an Israeli airstrike in Sidon that killed eight people. The statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office contradicted an earlier claim by Pakistan, which had said the truce would cover “all places, including Lebanon.”
The issue is significant as it highlights ongoing violence in Lebanon despite international efforts to reduce tensions elsewhere in the region. The attack in Sidon left at least eight dead and 22 injured, according to a statement from Lebanon’s Ministry of Health.
According to Lebanese authorities, Israeli strikes against Hezbollah have resulted in Israel occupying about ten percent of Lebanese territory and displacing more than one million people. In addition to civilian casualties, there have been attacks involving United Nations peacekeepers. A preliminary investigation by the United Nations reported that three Indonesian peacekeepers were killed at the end of March—one by Israeli army fire near Adchit Al Qusayr and two others by an explosive device near Bani Hayyan.
Stéphane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, said during a press briefing: “We have asked all parties involved that these cases be subject to investigations and judicial processes by national authorities so those responsible are brought to justice (…) for these crimes.” Dujarric also explained that prior communication had been made with Israel regarding UN positions: “In order to mitigate risks for United Nations personnel,” he said, “the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) had communicated all coordinates of its positions and installations twice before the incident.” He added that a tank shell fired by Israeli forces was responsible for one death while evidence suggested Hezbollah placed an improvised explosive device responsible for two other deaths.
Dujarric emphasized: “Attacks against United Nations peacekeepers may constitute war crimes (…) The inviolability of United Nations facilities must be respected.” UNIFIL was established in 1978 to oversee Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanon and currently has about 8,200 soldiers from 47 countries operating under challenging conditions.
