A UN PEACEKEEPER has been killed and another seriously injured after a projectile struck a UN position in southern Lebanon, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has said.

Indonesia confirmed that one of its peacekeepers had been killed and three others wounded due to “indirect artillery fire”.

UNIFIL said the incident happened overnight near the Lebanese village of Adchit Al Qusayr, south of the Litani river, located around 25 kilometres north of ‘Camp Shamrock’, the UNIFIL site which hosts Irish peacekeepers.

It described the death as a “tragic” loss of life for someone serving in a peacekeeping role.

“UNIFIL extends our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of the peacekeeper who lost his life while bravely carrying out his duties,” the body said in a statement.

“No one should ever lose their life serving the cause of peace.”

UNIFIL said it does not yet know the origin of the projectile and has launched an investigation to establish the full circumstances.

The mission also called on all parties to respect international law and ensure the safety of UN personnel, warning that deliberate attacks on peacekeepers are considered grave violations and may amount to war crimes.

The incident comes amid a sharp escalation in violence in southern Lebanon, where Israeli ground forces have crossed the border and launched an invasion into southern Lebanon, escalating their attacks against Hezbollah.

The conflict has displaced more than one million people, according to international agencies, and raised fears of a deepening humanitarian crisis.

UN peacekeepers, including more than 300 Irish Defence Forces personnel, are based in the region of Lebanon south of the Litani river and have reported increased risks in recent weeks, including small arms fire and shelling.

Just yesterday, a member of the joint Irish-Polish UNIFIL battalion sustained minor injuries after a roadside device detonated as their patrol vehicle passed.