Two Ghanaian soldiers serving under the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) have been critically injured after their base came under missile attack in southern Lebanon, the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has confirmed.
In a press release issued on Friday, the military said the Ghana Battalion Headquarters in the UN peacekeeping mission was struck by two missiles between 1745 and 1752 hours local time amid ongoing exchanges between the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Hezbollah forces in the region.
According to the statement, two soldiers sustained critical injuries while another was left traumatised following the attack.
“The Ghanaian Battalion Headquarters in United Nations Interim Force (UNIFIL), Lebanon came under two missile attacks between 1745 and 1752 hours local time today.” - Ghana Armed Forces (GAF)
The attack also caused significant damage to infrastructure within the camp. The Officers’ Mess facility was hit during the incident and was completely destroyed by fire.
Military authorities indicated that the injured personnel are currently receiving treatment at a Level One Medical Bunker within the mission area. The soldiers have been stabilised while arrangements are being made to evacuate them to the UNIFIL Headquarters Referral Hospital for further medical care.
“The Ghana Armed Forces assures the general public to remain calm amidst the fragile situation as troops are currently safe in underground bunkers.” - Ghana Armed Forces (GAF)
The incident occurred against the backdrop of escalating hostilities between Israeli forces and Hezbollah fighters in southern Lebanon, which have raised concerns over the safety of United Nations peacekeeping personnel operating in the conflict zone.
Meanwhile, the Government of Ghana has formally protested the incident through diplomatic channels. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reportedly raised the matter with the United Nations Headquarters in New York, calling on all parties involved in the conflict to respect the safety of peacekeepers deployed under the UN mandate.
Authorities have urged both sides of the conflict to be mindful of their obligations under international law to protect United Nations personnel operating in the theatre of operations.
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