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Peacekeeper dies after Lebanon attack last month - UNIFIL

French vehicles, part of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon
UNIFIL vehicles on patrol in southern Lebanon

A United Nations peacekeeper from Indonesia has died in hospital, almost a month after he was injured in an attack on his base in southern Lebanon.

It happened on 29 March.

His death was confirmed by UNIFIL, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, and brings to six the number of peacekeepers killed since the start of the most recent war between Israel and Hezbollah on 2 March.

A ceasefire has been in effect since 17 April.

UNIFIL said at the time of the 29 March attack that one Indonesian soldier was killed and another wounded.

A preliminary investigation by the UN found that the peacekeeper died after an Israeli tank shell was fired.

The following day, two more Indonesian soldiers were killed by an improvised explosive device.

The same UN investigation found that militant group Hezbollah was likely responsible.

Indonesia has already urged the UN to launch a thorough investigation into both incidents.

Two French soldiers serving in UNIFIL died following an ambush last weekend.

French authorities and the UN have blamed the 18 April attack on Hezbollah, but the group denied any involvement.


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Yesterday, the UN said that some form of ongoing presence may continue after its peacekeeping mission in Lebanon ends later this year.

Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix said that he was consulting with all parties about the options after UNIFIL's mandate formally ends and will make formal recommendations to the Security Council by June.

"They're (the Lebanese) very clear that they would want to keep a UN presence.

"We're looking at a presence that would probably be smaller than UNIFIL," Mr Lacroix said.

UNIFIL's mandate includes monitoring a ceasefire, supporting the Lebanese army in its deployment into the south, and helping it enforce a prohibition of illegal arms.

Italian peacekeepers replace Jesus statue wrecked by Israeli soldiers

UN peacekeepers from Italy have replaced a statue of Jesus Christ vandalised by Israeli soldiers in southern Lebanon, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said.

The sculpture of the crucifixion was located in the Christian village of Debl, near the border with Israel.

A photo shared online showed an Israeli soldier using a sledgehammer to strike the head of the statue, sparking international condemnation.


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In a statement, Ms Meloni thanked the Italian contingent of UNIFIL "for deciding to donate a new crucifix to the Lebanese village of Debl".

She said the instalment of the statue was "a powerful message of hope, dialogue and peace".

The Israeli military said that two soldiers would receive 30 days of military detention and be removed from combat duty over the destruction.

It said that six other soldiers who "were present at the scene and did not act to stop the incident or report it" had been summoned for "clarification discussions".