Israel Lebanon: unexploded shell hits UN compound

An unexploded artillery shell has hit a base of the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon (Unifil).

The 155-millimeter projectile was detonated in a controlled manner by Italian explosives experts, according to a Unifil statement.

No one was injured. The blue helmets were in shelters due to the ongoing fighting between the pro-Iranian Hezbollah militia and the Israeli armed forces. It initially remained unclear who had fired the grenade.

Israel wants to investigate the incident immediately

"We remind all actors of their obligations to ensure the safety of UN personnel and facilities. Deliberate attacks on peacekeepers are a serious violation of international humanitarian law and UN Security Council Resolution 1701," the statement continued.

Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani called on the new Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar to ensure the safety of the blue helmets. Saar has promised an immediate investigation, the government in Rome announced.

SDA