Serbian UN Peacekeeper Killed in South Lebanon Attack

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Beirut: A Serbian UN peacekeeper has been killed and two others wounded after mortar shells struck a UNIFIL position in southern Lebanon, the peacekeeping force and Serbian authorities said.

The death raises the number of UN peacekeepers killed to seven since fighting between Israel and Hezbollah resumed in March.

UNIFIL said the peacekeeper died from critical injuries sustained in Wednesday night's attack and confirmed an investigation had been launched. The force also called on relevant authorities to examine the incident.

Serbia identified the victim as Senior Sergeant Milovan Jovanovic, who died after being airlifted to a hospital in Beirut for treatment.

The attack comes as violence continues to escalate along the Lebanon-Israel border, where UN peacekeepers are deployed near the Blue Line separating the two countries.

UNIFIL said it has recorded a growing number of strikes and impacts across southern Lebanon and renewed calls for an end to the fighting.

Since March, peacekeepers from Indonesia, France and now Serbia have been among those killed in incidents linked to the conflict, with investigations attributing responsibility to both Israeli and Hezbollah actions in separate cases.

Pic Credit: AFP