Al-Naquora: Austria affirmed on Tuesday that eight Austrian troops serving with UN peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon (UNIFIL) were wounded in a rocket attack on the peacekeepers’ base in the southern Lebanese town of Al-Naquora.
According to Kuwait News Agency, an army spokesperson stated that the injuries sustained by the troops were light. The spokesperson also mentioned the difficulty in pinpointing the exact source of the attack. Minister of Defense Klaudia Tanner condemned the attack and urged conflict parties to ensure the immediate safety of the peacekeepers.
In Lebanon, a statement from UNIFIL indicated that a rocket fired from northern Lebanon hit the peacekeepers in Al-Naquora during the afternoon. The statement suggested that the rocket was most likely fired by Hezbollah or an affiliate faction. The rocket explosion caused fires that burned a workshop used by the peacekeepers.
The UNIFIL headquarters is approximately 110 kilometers south of the Lebanese capital. The peacekeeping force, whic
h numbers 10,000 troops, has been stationed in southern Lebanon since 1978. Austria contributes 160 troops to this international force.