EU condemns all attacks on UN missions

The European Union condemns all attacks against United Nations missions, the union's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in a response to targeting of the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, known as UNIFIL, by the Israeli military. 

"Such attacks against UN peacekeepers constitute a grave violation of international law and are totally unacceptable. These attacks must stop immediately," Borrell said in a statement on behalf of the EU published Sunday night.

"The EU condemns all attacks against UN missions," Borrell said.

"It expresses particularly grave concern regarding the attacks by the Israeli Defence Forces against UNIFIL, which left several peacekeepers wounded."

Israel has disputed some UN accounts of incidents involving UNIFIL peacekeepers in Lebanon, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said they were providing "human shields" for Hezbollah militants during an upsurge in hostilities.

In his statement, Borrell said "all actors" in the conflict have the obligation to ensure the safety and security of UN personnel and property.

"We urgently await explanations and a thorough investigation from the Israeli authorities about the attacks against UNIFIL, which plays a fundamental role in the stability of South Lebanon," he said.

On Sunday, UNIFIL said Israeli tanks burst through the gates of the forces' base in the south. The incident is the latest in a series of Israeli attacks targeting UNIFIL sites in southern Lebanon over the last week, resulting in at least five forces injured. 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement addressed to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres: "The time has come for you to withdraw UNIFIL from Hezbollah strongholds and from the combat zones." 

Spanish Foreign Minister J​osé Manuel Albares Bueno said on Monday only the UN can order the withdrawal of UNIFIL forces, adding attacks by Israel are unacceptable. 

UNIFIL was mandated by the UN Security Council (UNSC) in 1978 and has a peacekeeping force of over 10,000 members from 50 countries.