President Milanović Condemns Israel Defense Forces’ Attacks on UN Peacekeepers in Lebanon

The President of the Republic Zoran Milanović condemns the repeated attacks by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on members of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which violate international law and endanger the lives of UNIFIL personnel, whose mission is to maintain peace and security in the region. There is no justification for attacks on UNIFIL personnel, and the only thing the warring parties, including the Israel Defense Forces, must do is immediately cease all forms of attacks and pressure on the UNIFIL mission.

As the UN Security Council has warned, UN peacekeeping personnel and facilities must never be targeted. The mission of UNIFIL personnel is to safeguard international peace and security in the region, specifically by ensuring the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, adopted in 2006 with the aim of maintaining peace between Lebanon and Israel. UNIFIL personnel are working to prevent the escalation of the conflict, but attacks by the Israel Defense Forces on them, unfortunately, hinder UNIFIL’s efforts and directly contribute to the expansion of the conflict.

One member of the Croatian Armed Forces was part of the UNIFIL mission, and his participation in the mission has now concluded. The process of organizing his safe return to Croatia is currently underway. A decision regarding the deployment of a replacement from the Croatian Armed Forces to the UNIFIL mission will be made at a later time, with the security situation being the primary consideration.