India Supports UNIFIL Peacekeepers Amid Tensions in West Asia
New York, October 12: The Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations has expressed its full support for the joint statement by the 34 United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) troop-contributing countries. This comes amid rising tensions in West Asia, particularly following an incident where two UN peacekeepers were injured by an Israeli strike in Lebanon.
India, a significant contributor of troops to UN peacekeeping missions, emphasized the importance of ensuring the safety and security of peacekeepers, in line with United Nations Security Council resolutions. The statement was shared on social media platform X, highlighting the need for the protection of peacekeepers.
The incident occurred when the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) identified a threat in southern Lebanon and responded with fire, inadvertently hitting a UNIFIL post and injuring two personnel. The IDF expressed concern over the injuries.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs also voiced concern over the worsening security situation along the Blue Line, the border separating Lebanon and Israel. The Ministry stressed the need to respect the inviolability of UN premises and ensure the safety of peacekeepers.
UNIFIL, established by the UN Security Council in 1978 following Israel’s invasion of Lebanon, continues to operate along the Blue Line. Its mandate was recently renewed for another year.
Doubts Revealed
UNIFIL -: UNIFIL stands for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon. It is a group of peacekeepers who help maintain peace and security in the area between Lebanon and Israel.
Peacekeepers -: Peacekeepers are people sent by the United Nations to help maintain peace in areas where there is conflict. They try to prevent fighting and protect people living in those areas.
West Asia -: West Asia is a region that includes countries like Israel, Lebanon, and others. It is sometimes called the Middle East.
Israeli strike -: An Israeli strike refers to a military attack carried out by Israel. In this context, it means that Israel attacked a location in Lebanon, which affected the peacekeepers.
UN Security Council resolutions -: These are decisions made by the United Nations Security Council, which is a group that works to maintain international peace and security. The resolutions are like rules or guidelines for countries to follow.
Ministry of External Affairs -: The Ministry of External Affairs is a part of the Indian government that deals with India’s relations with other countries. They handle things like diplomacy and international cooperation.
Mandate renewed -: When a mandate is renewed, it means that the permission or authority for a group, like UNIFIL, to continue its work has been extended for more time.
