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Two peacekeepers serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) were killed on Monday in an explosion of unknown origin in southern Lebanon, the organization said.<\/p>\n
The blast destroyed their vehicle near the municipality of Bani Hayyan, UNIFIL said in a statement.<\/p>\n
Two other peacekeepers were injured, one of them seriously, it said.<\/p>\n
The incident marks the second fatal attack involving UNIFIL peacekeepers within 24 hours, the organization said.<\/p>\n
On Sunday, an Indonesian peacekeeper was killed and another injured when a projectile exploded at a UN position in southern Lebanon, UNIFIL said.<\/p>\n
Fighting between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah has flared up again in Lebanon amid the Iran war, with UN peacekeepers repeatedly caught in the crossfire along the border.<\/p>\n
The United Nations has deployed peacekeepers to the border region since 1978. The mission currently includes around 7,500 troops from nearly 50 countries.<\/p>\n
UNIFIL said it had launched investigations into both incidents and called on all parties to uphold their obligations under international law and ensure the safety of UN personnel and property.<\/p>\n
It warned that deliberate attacks on peacekeepers could constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law and may amount to war crimes.<\/p>\n
The mission expressed its condolences to the families and colleagues of the victims and wished a swift recovery to the injured, stressing that “no one should ever have to die serving the cause of peace.”<\/p>\n
Israeli shelling kills Lebanese soldier, army says<\/strong><\/p>\n Separately, the Lebanese army said one of its soldier had been killed in an Israeli attack in southern Lebanon.<\/p>\n Several others were wounded, it added.<\/p>\n The Israeli military said, in response to an inquiry, that it was investigating the allegations.<\/p>\n The Lebanese army is not an active participant in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. Nevertheless, several Lebanese soldiers have already been killed in the recent escalation.<\/p>\n The Israeli army also reported the death of an Israeli soldier in southern Lebanon, saying the 19-year-old died on Sunday. Israeli media reported that he was killed by Hezbollah rocket fire.<\/p>\n According to the Israeli military, several Lebanese soldiers were also wounded, some seriously, by rocket fire from the militia.<\/p>\n Israel strikes Beirut’s southern suburbs, killing one<\/strong><\/p>\n Meanwhile, an Israeli airstrike on the Rahab area in Beirut’s southern suburbs killed one person and wounded 17 others, Lebanon’s Health Ministry said.<\/p>\n In a statement, the ministry’s emergency operations centre said the strike resulted in 10 Lebanese nationals being injured, along with six Syrians – including four children – and one Kenyan woman.<\/p>\n