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UN observers wounded in Lebanon not hit by 'direct or indirect fire', peacekeepers say

 
 An ambulance drives in the village of Dhayra, near the border with Israel, in southern Lebanon, October 11, 2023. (photo credit: MOHAMED AZAKIR/REUTERS)
An ambulance drives in the village of Dhayra, near the border with Israel, in southern Lebanon, October 11, 2023.
(photo credit: MOHAMED AZAKIR/REUTERS)

Two security sources had earlier told Reuters the observers were wounded in an Israeli strike outside the border town of Rmeish. The Israeli military denied involvement in the incident.

The United Nations' peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon said on Wednesday that an incident at the weekend in which three UN observers and their translator were wounded was not caused by "direct or indirect fire."

The four members of the UN's technical observation mission in southern Lebanon were wounded as they were carrying out a foot patrol in south Lebanon, where armed group Hezbollah has been trading fire with the Israeli military across the border.

Two security sources had earlier told Reuters the observers were wounded in an Israeli strike outside the border town of Rmeish. The Israeli military denied involvement in the incident.

Preliminary investigation

Andrea Tenenti, spokesperson for the UN peacekeeping mission UNIFIL, said its "preliminary investigation showed that the incident was not caused by direct or indirect fire onto the group of UNTSO observers and their translator."

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"The investigation to determine the exact cause of the blast is ongoing," he told Reuters.

 A UNIFIL peacekeeper rides on an armored vehicle in Naqoura, near the border with Israel, in southern Lebanon, on August 31, the day of the UN Security Council’s decision to extend the force’s mandate.  (credit: AZIZ TAHER/REUTERS)
A UNIFIL peacekeeper rides on an armored vehicle in Naqoura, near the border with Israel, in southern Lebanon, on August 31, the day of the UN Security Council’s decision to extend the force’s mandate. (credit: AZIZ TAHER/REUTERS)

Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati had condemned on Saturday the "targeting" and wounding of UN staff in southern Lebanon, according to a statement from his office.

The observers were from Chile, Australia and Norway while the translator was Lebanese.

Israel's shelling of Lebanon has killed nearly 270 Hezbollah fighters, but has also killed around 50 civilians - including children, medics and journalists - and hit both UNIFIL and the Lebanese army.


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Last month UNIFIL said the Israeli military had violated international law by firing on a group of clearly identifiable journalists, killing Reuters reporter Issam Abdallah.

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