UNIFIL demands accountability for attackers against peacekeepers




BEIRUT, June 1 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) spokesperson Andrea Tenenti on Thursday demanded accountability for all attackers against peacekeepers.

"Attacks on men and women serving the cause of peace are serious crimes and can never be tolerated," the National News Agency quoted Tenenti as saying.

His remarks came a few hours after a military court in Lebanon charged five members of Hezbollah with the killing of Irish UN peacekeeper Sean Rooney in southern Lebanon last year.

Tenenti said the Lebanese court’s move "is one important step towards justice, and we continue to urge accountability for all perpetrators involved."

The 23-year-old Irish peacekeeper was killed in an attack on Dec. 14, 2022 when participating in a UN peacekeeping mission in Al-Aqbieh of southern Lebanon.

UNIFIL has been operating in southern Lebanon since 1978 to monitor the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the south.

According to its latest data, UNIFIL now has 10,122 peacekeepers from 48 countries.

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