ATHENS

France on Friday condemned Israel’s deliberate attacks on UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon, calling them “unjustifiable” and urging an end to hostilities.

“France condemns the incident which affected the physical integrity of the peacekeepers on 7 November, following an attack near a convoy of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) near Saida, even though its route had been previously communicated,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The ministry noted that five Malaysian peacekeepers were injured in such an attack and highlighted that “five other peacekeepers had already been injured in recent weeks as a result of deliberate Israeli attacks, which are unjustifiable and must stop.”

The statement emphasized the need to protect peacekeepers and UN personnel, property, and premises.

“France calls for a cessation of hostilities based on the full implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, which would allow the safe return of displaced Israelis and Lebanese to their homes,” the statement added.

On Thursday, five peacekeepers were injured in a drone strike near a military checkpoint in Sidon, southern Lebanon, according to the UN mission.

UNIFIL operates between the Litani River in southern Lebanon and the Blue Line bordering Israel, as part of its mandate under Resolution 1701 to maintain security.

Since late September, Israel has conducted an extensive air campaign in Lebanon, targeting what it claims are Hezbollah sites, escalating ongoing cross-border tensions since the Gaza conflict began.

Lebanese health authorities report that over 3,000 people have been killed and more than 13,500 injured in Israeli attacks since October 2023.

Israel launched a ground assault into southern Lebanon on Oct. 1.