The UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has been deliberately targeted by Israeli forces in some cases, the head of the peacekeeping body, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, has just told us.

UNIFIL forces have faced a series of Israeli attacks on peacekeepers this month, with the Israeli government demanding they leave their positions in southern Lebanon.

Speaking further The world with Yalda Hakimsaid Mr Lacroix “in some cases we saw clear indications of deliberate attacks”.

“But I wouldn’t say that all attacks or all incidents were deliberate,” he added.

“In a number of cases, we still have to investigate.”

Earlier today, Austria’s Defense Ministry said eight of its soldiers belonging to the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon were wounded in a rocket strike in Naqoura, a city in southern Lebanon.

“In some of the cases, we don’t have hard evidence that absolutely points to deliberate attacks,” Mr. Lacroix said.

“In some cases, yes, we have those elements. I mean, recently, like a little less than a week ago, there was a UNIFIL observation post that was bulldozed there by the IDF.

“And we have a video. I mean, it was obviously a deliberate attack.”

UNRWA ban ‘extremely worrying’

Mr Lacroix also described Israel’s ban on UN aid agency UNRWA as “extremely worrying” because the group is “absolutely essential” to getting humanitarian aid to Palestinian populations.

Yesterday’s decision by parliament is expected to severely restrict the aid group’s work in Gaza and the West Bank, where access is controlled by Israel.

“So banning UNRWA, preventing UNRWA from operating and providing humanitarian assistance to these populations, especially at this time, is really extremely concerning,” he said.