BEIRUT, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said Friday that one of its positions near the southern Lebanese village of Kfarchouba was hit by Israeli fire, with no casualties reported.
According to a UNIFIL statement, an Israeli Merkava tank south of the Blue Line -- a withdrawal line for Israel -- fired about 30 small-caliber rounds toward the UN position earlier in the day.
The rounds hit a sentry post, and one bullet penetrated the living quarters inside the position, most likely after ricocheting, UNIFIL said, adding that no one was present at the time.
UNIFIL stated that it had requested the Israeli military to cease fire through existing liaison mechanisms.
It reiterated that the Israeli military is obligated to ensure the safety of peacekeepers and their positions, warning that any actions endangering UN peacekeepers constitute serious violations of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and undermine efforts to maintain stability.
The incident follows repeated reports by UNIFIL of fire and military activity near its positions in southern Lebanon in recent weeks, amid ongoing tensions along the Israeli-Lebanese border. ■
