UNIFIL peacekeeping forces were hit by three separate incidents in southern Lebanon on Tuesday, injuring six of their soldiers, amid rising tensions in the region.

Four Ghanaian peacekeepers were injured when a rocket - likely fired from non-state actors inside Lebanon - targeted their base "UNP 5-42" east of the town of Ramyeh. Three of them were transferred to a hospital in Tyre for treatment.

UNIFIL’s Sector West Headquarters in Shamaa was hit five times, hitting a maintenance workshop inside the base. Despite the extensive damage, no peacekeepers were injured. This is the second attack on the base in less than a week, after a 155mm artillery shell hit it on 15 November.

A UNIFIL patrol northeast of Khirbet Selem village came under direct fire from an armed man. No casualties were reported among the troops as a result of this incident.

UNIFIL announced that it had launched investigations into the three incidents and reported them to the Lebanese Armed Forces. It called on all parties to respect the sanctity of its forces and installations, stressing that the repeated attacks - direct and indirect - against peacekeepers constitute a flagrant violation of international law and resolution 1701.

UNIFIL stressed that any attack on peacekeeping forces threatens the stability of the region, affirming its commitment to remain in its positions and continue its tasks of monitoring and reporting violations in an impartial manner, despite the increasing challenges.