India backs statement by UNIFIL countries condemning attacks on peacekeepers in Lebanon

United Nations/New Delhi: India has backed a joint statement by 34 countries contributing to the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon that said they “strongly condemn recent attacks” on the peacekeepers in south Lebanon, after five peacekeepers were injured in firing on UN outposts.

“Such actions must stop immediately and should be adequately investigated,” said the joint statement, posted on X by the Polish UN mission and signed by nations including leading contributors Indonesia, Italy and India.

Other signatories include Ghana, Nepal, Malaysia, Spain, France and China — all countries that have contributed several hundred troops to the force.

The statement came after at least five peacekeepers were wounded in the past few days amidst the ground attack launched by Israel in south Lebanon against the Iran-backed Hezbollah terror group.

United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has accused the Israeli military of “deliberately” firing on its positions.

India’s permanent Mission in the UN said in a post on X that India as a major troop contributing country “aligns itself fully with the joint statement issued by the 34 UNIFIL troop contributing countries”.

“As a major Troop Contributing Country, India aligns itself fully with the joint statement issued by the 34 @UNIFIL_ troop contributing countries.

“Safety and security of peacekeepers are of paramount importance and must be ensured in accordance with extant UNSC Resolutions,” India’s Permanent Mission in the UN said.

The 34 nations that co-signed the statement include Bangladesh, Brazil, China, France, Italy, Spain, Sri Lanka, and the UK.

On Sunday, the Polish mission to the UN announced that India, Colombia, Germany, Greece, Peru and Uruguay have extended support to the statement.

"Poland welcomes the growing support for the @UNIFIL_ peacekeeping mission. Currently, 40 countries have co-signed our joint statement. Thank you, Colombia, Germany, Greece, India, Peru and Uruguay. Also grateful for Switzerland endorsement," the Polish mission posted on X.

UNIFIL's force in south Lebanon comprises over 10,000 peacekeepers from 50 troop-contributing countries, including India.

UNIFIL said two days ago that Israel Defense Forces (IDF) troops opened fire at three positions held by UN peacekeepers.

Israel has said that Hezbollah fighters have been operating from near the UN posts, and attacking Israeli positions.

The United Nations peacekeepers were deployed to patrol Lebanon's southern border with Israel in 1978 after Israel invaded south Lebanon.

The mandate for the operation - known as the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon or UNIFIL - is renewed annually by the 15-member UN Security Council.

The Blue Line is a UN-mapped line separating Lebanon from Israel and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. The area of operations for UN peacekeepers is marked by the Litani River in the north and the Blue Line in the south. The mission has more than 10,000 troops from 50 countries and about 800 civilian staff, according to its website.