Blinken: UN Peacekeeper Safety in Lebanon ‘Essential’

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized to Lebanon’s prime minister on Friday the importance of safeguarding U.N. peacekeepers stationed in Lebanon, following reports of continued Israeli firing in the region, the State Department announced.

During their meeting in London, Blinken expressed his commitment to supporting the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and stressed that protecting their personnel is crucial, according to the statement from the State Department.

UNIFIL reported on Friday that Israeli forces had fired at one of their observation posts in southern Lebanon earlier in the week. The force noted that the security situation remains “extremely challenging” amid other, unidentified attacks. On Tuesday, UNIFIL stated that “IDF soldiers fired at” an observation post near the border village of Dhayra, causing the guards to retreat to ensure their safety.