Another UN peacekeeper — the fifth in 2 days — hurt in Lebanon

 Another peacekeeper from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) was injured in southern Lebanon on Friday evening, UNIFIL said in a statement on Saturday.

UNIFIL said the peacekeeper was hit by gunfire at its headquarters in the city of Naqoura due to ongoing military activity nearby.

“He underwent surgery at our Naqoura hospital to remove the bullet and is currently stable. We do not yet know the origin of the fire,” the force said.

The peacekeeper was the fifth member of the UN force hurt in southern Lebanon in just two days.

UNIFIL said two peacekeepers were injured after an Israeli Merkava tank fired toward its observation tower in Naqoura on Thursday, causing it to collapse.

On Friday, two more were hurt after two explosions occurred close to the observation tower in Naqoura.

Separately, UNIFIL said its building in a UN position in Ramyah, Lebanon, “sustained significant damage due to explosions from nearby shelling” on Friday.

Condemnation from other countries: A number of nations whose citizens serve in the peacekeeping force criticized Israel for the incidents. Italy and France have summoned their Israeli ambassadors, and the head of Ireland’s armed forces, Lt. Gen. Sean Clancy, claimed the gunfire that hit the UNIFIL position on Friday seemed “deliberate,” given the circumstances. Sri Lanka and Indonesia, whose nationals were among the injured, also condemned the incidents.