Attacks against UN forces cannot be justified by 'any kind of incident or accident,' says EU's Borrell

LONDON

EU foreign policy chief on Monday stated that Israeli attacks on UN forces must be "absolutely avoided," saying attacks cannot be "justified by any kind of incident or accident."

Speaking at a press conference following EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg, Josep Borrell said that EU foreign ministers reiterated their full support to United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, or UNIFIL.

Borrell said that EU "unanimously" condemned Israeli shelling of UN peacekeepers position in Lebanon, adding that "In Lebanon, another red line has been dangerously crossed by the Israeli army".

In response to a question related to Israeli attack against UNIFIL, Borrell also said: "It looks a little bit ironic to talk about to keep peace when there is no peace."

Israeli tanks on Sunday forced entry into one of UNIFIL's positions in the latest series of violations and attacks by the Israeli military, which injured several peacekeeping troops.

"Lebanon and its people are paying a heavy price for Israeli military operations. The number speaks from themselves; 1.2 million people, 20% of the entire population of the Lebanon, has been forcefully displaced," he added.

On the dire humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip where more than 42,000 people have been killed in Israeli attacks since Oct. 7, 2023, Borrell said: "I am afraid that humanitarian law is below the rubbles of Gaza ... and I am afraid humanitarian law is also a victim of this war."

On Iran, Borrell announced that the Council has adopted sanctions for deliveries of Iranian ballistic missiles to Russia.

"This is the first sanctions against Iran for providing ballistic missiles," he said.