UN Secretary-General: Any Attack on Peacekeeping Forces May Be Considered a 'War Crime'

Following the incursion of Israeli army tanks into the entrance of a peacekeeping forces' base in southern Lebanon, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned on Sunday that any attack on peacekeeping forces may be considered a 'war crime.' According to Reuters, Stephane Dujarric, Guterres' spokesperson, stated, 'The Secretary-General reiterates that UNIFIL locations and personnel must never be targeted. Attacks against peacekeepers violate international law, including humanitarian law.' Amidst Israeli army attacks on positions of Iranian-backed Hezbollah militants in southern Lebanon in recent days, the UN peacekeeping forces' headquarters in the region was targeted twice, resulting in several peacekeepers being injured. The Israeli Prime Minister expressed regret over the injuries to peacekeepers, stating that the Israeli army is making every effort to prevent such incidents from occurring again, but 'the simple and clear way to ensure this is to withdraw them from the danger zone.' Benjamin Netanyahu, in a message to Antonio Guterres, said, 'Your failure to evacuate UN peacekeeping forces [from combat areas] turns them into hostages of Hezbollah,' endangering the lives of Israeli soldiers and these forces. Relations between the Israeli government and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres have soured in recent months due to his approach towards the war between Israel and Iranian-backed militant groups in Gaza and Lebanon. Netanyahu: Hezbollah uses peacekeepers as human shields. Hezbollah's attack on Israel; 67 injured. Gallant: We will not allow Hezbollah to re-establish itself in border areas. Italy: Israeli attacks on peacekeepers are unacceptable. The Israeli Foreign Minister defended the country's decision to ban the UN Secretary-General from entering Israel.