Kathmandu, March 15
A camp of Nepali peacekeepers deployed in Lebanon under a United Nations peacekeeping mission has come under attack. According to the news agency Agence France-Presse, the attack targeted the Nepali battalion headquarters.
The attack, which took place on Friday evening, did not cause any casualties among the Nepali peacekeepers. Rajarama Basnet, spokesperson for the Nepali Army, said all Nepali personnel were safe.
He said, “Some explosions occurred in Mais al-Jabal, where Nepali peacekeepers are stationed. A house in the area was damaged. Some personal belongings of the Nepali peacekeepers were also damaged, but there were no human casualties.”
More than 500 Nepali peacekeepers are currently deployed across Lebanon. Their operations are coordinated from a battalion headquarters located in southern Lebanon, close to the border with Israel. The force commander there is Brigadier General Man Bahadur Thapa. All peacekeepers were inside bunkers during the attack, which helped ensure their safety.
It is not yet clear how many peacekeepers were present at the headquarters at the time of the attack.
“There are frequent rotations and movements of personnel, so the exact number of peacekeepers present during the attack is not known,” spokesperson Basnet said.
Lebanon’s state news agency National News Agency claimed that an Israeli shell fell on the headquarters of the Nepali battalion operating under the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
“An Israeli shell landed inside the headquarters of the Nepali battalion under UNIFIL in the town of Mais al-Jabal,” the agency reported.
However, Nepali Army spokesperson Basnet said it has not yet been confirmed where the attack originated. According to him, an investigation is underway.
“It is not yet certain where the shelling came from. The matter will be investigated,” he told Onlinekhabar on Sunday morning.
UN Secretary-General calls for an end to the conflict
The explosions at the peacekeepers’ camp occurred while António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, was visiting Lebanon.
Guterres said targeting peacekeepers is unacceptable and called for the ongoing conflict to stop immediately.
He also appealed to the international community to take stronger action to restore peace.
“My message to the international community is very clear, step up your engagement,” he said.
He added that people in Lebanon, Israel, and all other countries have the right to live in safety without fear.
