BEIRUT: UNIFIL said Friday that an investigation into last month’s killing of a Spanish peacekeeper was ongoing, adding that media speculations over the circumstances surrounding the incident did not serve the case.
“It should be noted that UNIFIL investigations into the incidents of Jan. 28, 2015, including the tragic loss of life of the UNIFIL peacekeeper, are still ongoing,” a UNIFIL statement said.
Spanish Lance Corporal Francisco Javier Soria Toledo was killed on Jan. 28 during Israeli shelling of south Lebanon which followed a Hezbollah attack on an Israeli military convoy in Lebanon’s occupied Shebaa farms. The Hezbollah operation killed two Israeli soldiers and wounded seven others.
In an article published Thursday, The Daily Star quoted a UNIFIL officer as ruling out the possibility that the post where the Spanish peacekeeper was serving was hit by Israeli fire by mistake.
“As per established procedure, UNIFIL investigations are carried out in cooperation with both the parties and, once completed, UNIFIL shares the findings with the parties and with U.N. headquarters,’ the statement said.
“Given the seriousness of the day’s events that had a dangerous potential to escalate and endanger further innocent lives, it is imperative to thoroughly investigate and determine the facts and circumstances of the incidents, as well as identify measures to prevent their recurrence. This is the focus of UNIFIL,” it added. “Speculation of this nature only serves to undermine the common interest of all concerned.”
Hezbollah’s military operation came 10 days after an Israeli airstrike killed six Hezbollah fighters in Syria’s Golan Heights along with an Iranian general.
UNIFIL said its spokesperson was ready to address questions by media outlets on issues pertaining to UNIFIL’s mission.
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