The United Nations peacekeeping forces in Lebanon will "remain in all positions" although facing multiple attacks and violations, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) announced in Monday's statement.
According to the statement, an Israeli army bulldozer "deliberately demolished an observation tower and perimeter fence of a UN position" on Sunday, following its Wednesday tank fire targeting another UN watchtower and other previous attacks.
"Breaching a UN position and damaging UN assets is a flagrant violation of international law and Security Council resolution 1701," UNIFIL warned in the statement, adding that the peacekeepers will "remain in all positions", despite the security pressure and Israel's demand to vacate their positions along the Blue Line.
The Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants on Monday condemned Israel's repeated attacks on personnel and positions of UNIFIL, calling on the international community to take a firm stance to support peacekeeping forces and demanding an immediate halt to its hostile actions against UNIFIL forces.
The Blue Line, stretching for 120km along Lebanon's southern frontier, was set by the United Nations in 2000, which separates the Lebanese and Israeli armed forces. UNIFIL, according to Security Council resolutions, is stationed in the north of Blue Line for peacekeeping.
Peacekeepers to "remain in all positions" despite Israeli attacks: UNIFIL
A Chinese envoy stressed the need for global cooperation to promote international nuclear arms control efforts amid unprecedented and formidable challenges faced by the international nuclear disarmament process, while addressing a United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) meeting on nuclear weapons on Monday.
During the thematic debate on nuclear weapons at the 79th session of the UNGA, Shen Jian, Chinese Ambassador for Disarmament Affairs, stated that the international nuclear disarmament process is encountering unparalleled challenges stemming from the lack of strategic mutual trust among major powers, escalating geopolitical tensions, and prolonged regional conflicts.
Therefore, there is a need for all countries to jointly work towards reducing nuclear risks, advancing nuclear disarmament, and preventing nuclear proliferation, Shen noted.
According to the Chinese envoy, it is necessary to deescalate regional tensions and end hostilities promptly, reduce the role of nuclear weapons in national security policies, cease the provocative deployment of strategic forces to the forefront, adhere to a practical and feasible path of nuclear disarmament, maintain an objective and rational stance on nuclear transparency issues, and promote international efforts to prevent nuclear proliferation.
"Both the symptoms and root causes of the prominent risks and challenges in the nuclear field should be addressed. Being obsessed with the Cold War mentality, hyping up major power competition, and inciting bloc confrontation will only lead the international nuclear arms control process into a dead end. The international community should uphold the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security, adhere to true multilateralism, respect each other's legitimate security concerns, and work together to promote the international nuclear arms control process," Shen said.
As the current coordinator of the cooperation mechanism of the five nuclear-weapon states, China hosted an expert-level meeting in New York on October 7 to start substantive work during its tenure. China will also continue its efforts to enhance dialogue and cooperation among the five nuclear-weapon states, Shen said.
China calls for global efforts to promote int'l nuclear arms control process
