Norwegian UN observer injured in attack in Lebanon – NRK Norway – An overview of news from across the country

Three unarmed observers and a translator are said to have been injured after an Israeli attack in Lebanon. It happened outside the Christian village of Rmeish in southern Lebanon, near the border with Israel.

According to the Jordanian Roya Channel correspondent in Beirut, there will be three UN observers and a Lebanese translator.

One of the observers must be Norwegian. The Operations Headquarters of the Norwegian Armed Forces confirmed to NRK that a Norwegian UN observer was injured in an attack in Lebanon.

We can confirm that a Norwegian observer to the United Nations was slightly injured and is in hospital as a result of an attack in Lebanon. The person concerned is well cared for and has personally informed his next of kin. The organization's spokeswoman, Hanne Olafsen, says that the circumstances surrounding the attack are unclear.

Dagbladet reported the confirmation first.

Foot patrol

It was initially reported that the group was in a car. However, according to UNIFIL, the UN peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon, it is a foot patrol.

Four UN observers were injured on Saturday when a grenade exploded near them while they were on foot patrol, they said in a statement.

The United Nations Observer Organization for the Middle East (UNTSO) monitors the ceasefire between Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria, and assists UNIFIL forces, among others. They also work to prevent the escalation of conflicts and incidents in the regions.

Norway has participated in the Truce Supervision Organization since 1956, and the Norwegian Armed Forces have 13 Norwegian officers in the organization. Two of them are stationed at the main headquarters in Jerusalem, while the rest are stationed as observers in Israel, Syria and Lebanon.

However, the military observers are not armed, and are only supposed to monitor and report incidents such as ceasefire violations.

He denies the attack

UNIFIL said in a statement that attacks on peacekeepers are unacceptable, and Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati also condemned targeted attacks against United Nations forces, according to Reuters.

The Israeli army denies any connection to the attack on the monitors.

Tensions between Israel and Lebanon are very high as a result of the war between Hamas and Israel in Gaza.

The border areas between the two countries witness almost daily clashes between the powerful Lebanese Hezbollah militia and Israel. Hezbollah supports Hamas in the war against Israel.

On Friday, Israel carried out a drone attack on a car near the city of Tire in southern Lebanon. The Israeli army claims that a senior Hezbollah commander has been killed.