The Israeli ambassador to Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Ghana, Roey Gilad, has expressed sympathies after a missile strike on a Ghanaian peacekeeping post in southern Lebanon caused terrible casualties among the troops.
Previously verified by the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), the incident occurred on Friday night in southern Lebanon, between 5:45 and 5:52 p.m. local time, when two missiles struck the headquarters of the Ghanaian Battalion, which was serving under the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
According to the military statement published by Burma Camp in Accra, the attack left two Ghanaian soldiers with severe injuries and one with psychological trauma. Furthermore, fire devastated the Officers’ Mess structure at the base.
The wounded people are currently receiving care in a Level One Medical Bunker, and arrangements are being made to transport them to the referral hospital at the UNIFIL headquarters for more medical care.
In a press release to the media, the Israeli envoy described the incident as a tragedy and expressed sympathy for the affected party.
In reality, this is a tragedy. “We send our hopes for a speedy recovery to the three soldiers,” said Ambassador Gilad.
In addition, he emphasized the ongoing IDF [Israel Defense Forces] investigation into “identify the source of the fire.”
Despite the precarious security situation, the Ghana Armed Forces has reassured the public that the remaining soldiers are secure and have taken shelter in subterranean bunkers.
The incident takes place against a backdrop of growing tensions in the Middle East as a result of the growing conflict between Israel, Iran, and allied forces across the region.
Southern Lebanon has become an increasingly volatile stage due to the continuous clashes between the Israel Defense Forces and the Iranian-backed Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah.
To preserve ceasefire agreements and prevent hostilities between the two countries, UNIFIL peacekeeping forces, including the Ghanaian contingent, patrol a buffer zone along the Israel-Lebanon border in accordance with UN Security Council mandates.
The increasing military exchanges, however, have brought peacekeeping forces closer to active combat zones, increasing the risk of unintended or collateral strikes.
Since then, the Ghanaian government has raised the issue at the United Nations, via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, seeking increased protection for peacekeepers operating in conflict areas.
Ghana has urged all parties in the dispute to adhere to international humanitarian law and safeguard the security of UN employees stationed there in order to foster peace and stability, according to officials.
Ghana is still one of the largest troop-contributing countries to UN peacekeeping missions worldwide, with forces deployed in several operations across Africa and the Middle East.
The most recent incident highlights the growing threats that peacekeepers face as regional tensions rise against the backdrop of the wider geopolitical conflict that is occurring across the Middle East.
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