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We previously reported briefly on the UN peacekeeping mission’s comments in Lebanon and its determination to remain in the country despite a series of “deliberate” attacks by Israeli forces in recent days.

Now we have a little more detail on the comments, which included claims that efforts to help civilians in villages in the war zone were being hampered by Israeli fire.

The UN mission, known as UNIFIL, is stationed in southern Lebanon to monitor hostilities along the demarcation line with Israel – an area where there were fierce clashes this month between Israeli troops and Iranian-backed Hezbollah fighters.

Two peacekeepers were injured in an Israeli attack near a watchtower last week, sparking criticism from some of the 50 countries that contribute troops to the 10,000-strong force.

“We were attacked several times, five times we were deliberately attacked,” said UNIFIL spokesman Andrea Tenenti.

“I think UNIFIL’s role is more important than ever right now. We have to be here.”

Israel claims UN forces are a human shield for Hezbollah fighters and has ordered UNIFIL to evacuate peacekeepers from southern Lebanon for their own safety – a request the country has rejected.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected allegations that the armed forces had been specifically targeted.

However, Mr. Tenenti disputed this, saying that in one of the incidents he described, Israeli forces entered a UNIFIL compound and remained there for 45 minutes.

Asked whether UNIFIL would consider defending itself against Israel, he said that was an option but that it was trying to defuse tensions at the moment.

He also expressed concern about civilians remaining in southern Lebanon, whom he said aid workers were having difficulty reaching due to ongoing Israeli shelling.

“The devastation and destruction of many villages along the Blue Line and even beyond is shocking,” he said, referring to a line mapped by the United Nations that separates Lebanon from Israel and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.

Asked about the shooting down of a drone near a UNIFIL ship off the Lebanese coast yesterday, he said: “The drone came from the south but circled around the ship and came very, very close, a few meters from the ship. “

An investigation is underway, he added.

Our data and forensics team took a look at previous Israeli attacks on UN peacekeeping positions: