Netanyahu again calls on the UN to withdraw UNIFIL from its positions in southern Lebanon

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MADRID 14 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) –

The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has once again requested this Monday the withdrawal of the United Nations Internal Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) from its positions on the southern border and has regretted “any damage caused” to the personnel of the UN mission. peace.

“The Army is doing everything possible to avoid such incidents, but the best way to ensure the safety of UNIFIL personnel is for them to heed Israel’s request and temporarily remove themselves from danger,” he said in a video posted on social network

Netanyahu recalled that the Shiite militia party Hezbollah “uses the facilities and positions” of UNIFIL “as shields while attacking Israeli cities and communities.” “These attacks have claimed the lives of many Israelis, including yesterday,” he added.

In this sense, the Israeli Prime Minister recalled that Israel “is not fighting against UNIFIL” or against the Lebanese people, but against Iran’s partner, Hezbollah, which “uses Lebanese territory to attack Israel.”

“Allegations that Israel has deliberately attacked UNIFIL personnel are completely false. The opposite is in fact true. Israel has repeatedly called on UNIFIL to remove itself from danger,” he said.

This comes after up to five ‘blue helmets’ were injured in Israeli attacks in recent days and another 15 were affected by a smoke screen launched by Israeli troops who stormed one of the positions with two battle tanks. the international force this Sunday.

UNIFIL, established in 1978, is made up of around 10,500 soldiers from around 50 countries, of which around 650 are Spanish, who ensure the ceasefire on the border. The Israeli Army launched a new invasion of Lebanon on October 1, an operation that it defines as “selective and limited” against Hezbollah’s “terrorist targets and infrastructure.”