The Ambassador of Israel to Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone, Roey Gilad, has expressed sympathy following a missile attack on a Ghanaian peacekeeping position in southern Lebanon that left soldiers critically injured.
The attack, confirmed earlier by the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), occurred on Friday evening when the Ghanaian Battalion Headquarters serving under the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) came under two missile strikes between 17:45 and 17:52 local time in southern Lebanon.
According to the military statement issued from Burma Camp in Accra, two Ghanaian soldiers were critically injured, while another suffered trauma during the attack. The Officers’ Mess facility at the base was also hit and completely destroyed by fire.
The injured personnel are currently receiving treatment at a Level One Medical Bunker, while arrangements are underway to evacuate them to the UNIFIL headquarters referral hospital for further medical care.
In a response shared with MyJoyOnline, the Israeli envoy described the incident as catastrophic and empathised with the affected contingent.
“This is indeed a tragic event. We send wishes of speedy recovery to the three soldiers,” Ambassador Gilad said.
He also emphasised efforts to “identify the source of the fire which is being investigated by the IDF [Israel Defense Forces]”.
The Ghana Armed Forces has assured the public that other troops remain safe and have taken shelter in underground bunkers amid the fragile security situation.
The incident comes as tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate following the expanding confrontation involving Israel, Iran and allied forces across the region.
Southern Lebanon has become an increasingly volatile theatre due to ongoing exchanges between the Israel Defense Forces and the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.
UNIFIL peacekeepers, including the Ghanaian contingent, operate in a buffer zone along the Israel–Lebanon border established under United Nations Security Council mandates to monitor ceasefire arrangements and prevent hostilities between the two sides.
However, the intensifying military exchanges have placed peacekeeping positions in proximity to active combat zones, increasing the risk of accidental or collateral strikes.
The Government of Ghana has since raised the incident at the United Nations through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, calling for greater protection of peacekeepers operating in conflict areas.
Officials say Ghana has urged all parties involved in the conflict to respect international humanitarian law and ensure the safety of UN personnel deployed to maintain peace and stability.
Ghana remains one of the largest troop-contributing countries to UN peacekeeping missions worldwide, with soldiers serving in multiple operations across Africa and the Middle East.
The latest incident highlights the growing risks facing peacekeepers as regional tensions continue to rise amid the broader geopolitical confrontation unfolding across the Middle East.
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