Eduardo González
The Ministry of Defense has attributed to “an error”, apparently committed by Israel, the impact of an artillery shot against Spanish positions of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
“On Saturday afternoon, a watchtower inside a UNIFIL position in the vicinity of Ibel Qameh in southern Lebanon was hit by a shelling that caused damage to the structure,” the Mission reported via social network X. “Fortunately, no one was injured. The origin is being investigated,” the mission continued. The incident came amid escalating cross clashes between Hezbollah and the Israeli Army on the border between the two countries.
“Any attack on UNIFIL positions and any use of the vicinity of our positions to launch attacks across the Blue Line is unacceptable,” it continued. “We remind the parties of their obligations to protect peacekeepers and to avoid putting the men and women working to restore stability at risk,” it added. “Attacks against civilians or UN personnel are violations of international law,” it warned.
“After more than two months of active shelling along the Blue Line, the potential for a miscalculation that could trigger a wider conflict is increasing,” said UNIFIL, whose priority “remains to avoid escalation, safeguard the lives of civilians and ensure the safety of peacekeepers.”
Defense Ministry sources quoted by the Europa Press agency assured yesterday that the incident was due to an “error” and that “everything seems to indicate” that “the artillery fire” came from Israel, pending confirmation. The same sources specified that Israel usually warns when and where it is going to carry out an attack so that the UNIFIL troops can go to the shelters in time, but, in this case, the warning was given at short notice.
Spain has around 600 troops in the mission, mostly belonging to the Paratroopers Brigade. The Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral General Teodoro López Calderón, assured yesterday, during an event with the Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, that the artillery shot hit a railing of a tower of an advanced position and did not cause any personal damage, except for “a little scare”.
He also recalled his recent visit to the Spanish contingent, currently made up of the XI Extremadura Brigade, which took command at the end of November: “I have seen them with very high morale, very aware of the importance of their role at this moment, so that there is no escalation of the conflict”, he told the press.
