WASHINGTON, April 23 — The United Nations (UN) said that a second peacekeeper had died following a recent attack in southern Lebanon, prompting renewed calls for accountability and the protection of international peacekeepers in the region.
Anadolu Ajansı reported its Secretary-General António Guterres as expressing sorrow over the death of a French soldier serving with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) following an April 18 attack in which another peacekeeper was killed, and three were injured.
“This was one of several incidents in recent weeks to have resulted in the deaths and serious injury of peacekeepers serving with UNIFIL,” his spokesman Stéphane Dujarric said in a statement.
He added that Guterres reiterated his call on all actors to uphold their obligations under international law and to ensure the safety and security of UN personnel.
“Attacks on peacekeepers must stop. They are grave violations of international humanitarian law and of Security Council resolution 1701 (2006) and may amount to war crimes.
“All attacks on peacekeepers must be promptly investigated, and those responsible must be effectively prosecuted and held accountable,” Dujarric said.
Earlier, France confirmed the death of Anicet Girardin, who had been evacuated to France for treatment after being wounded in the same attack that killed Adjutant Florian Montorio and injured two other French personnel.
