EU nations took too long to condemn attacks on UNIFIL, Borrell says
LUXEMBOURG – The European Union’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Monday that the EU states have taken too long to condemn the Zionist entity’s “completely unacceptable” attacks on UNIFIL soldiers in Lebanon.
“It is contrary to what we expect from any member state of the United Nations, which is ultimately an organisation that protects world peace,” added Borrell, speaking at an EU ministerial meeting in Luxembourg.
EU countries, led by Italy, France, and Spain, have thousands of troops in the 10,000-strong peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon, who reported constant attacks from the Zionist forces in recent days.
The United Nations peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon said on Sunday that two Zionist tanks forcibly entered at one of its positions after destroying the main gate.
Shortly after the tanks departed, shells exploded 100 meters away, releasing smoke that drifted across the base and caused sickness among UN personnel. Despite wearing gas masks, 15 required medical treatment.
The source of the shelling and the type of toxic substance involved have not been identified.
On Saturday, UNIFIL refused to retreat five kilometres further north into Lebanese territory as ordered by the Zionist forces, who have repeatedly targeted the peacekeepers, sparking international outrage.
