UN peacekeepers warn Israel and Hezbollah over attacks near positions in Lebanon

The UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon, UNIFIL, has warned Israel and the militant group Hezbollah that attacks near its positions could be met with return fire, according to a statement issued Sunday evening.

A UNIFIL spokesperson said all parties are obligated to ensure the safety of UN personnel and respect the inviolability of UN premises. The warning follows recent incidents in which several peacekeepers have been killed or wounded while on duty in southern Lebanon, where Finnish troops are also deployed as part of the mission.

Finnish personnel in the operation number around 165. The peacekeepers have also faced repeated gunfire in recent weeks.