Ghana has called on the United Nations to launch an investigation after missiles struck a Ghanaian peacekeeping base in Lebanon, leaving two soldiers critically injured.
According to the Ghana Armed Forces, the battalion’s headquarters in southern Lebanon was hit by two missiles on Friday. The attack left two soldiers in critical condition, while another soldier was reportedly traumatized. The strike also destroyed the Officers’ Mess facility, which was completely burned down.
The Ghanaian troops are part of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), a peacekeeping mission tasked with monitoring the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon. Ghana has been contributing troops to the mission since 1978, making it one of its longest-standing participants.
The attack comes amid escalating tensions in the Middle East. Earlier this week, the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah fired rockets toward Israel, widening the regional conflict. Since then, Israeli forces and the Iran-backed group have continued to exchange strikes, raising fears that the conflict could spread further across the region.
Although Ghana did not state who was responsible for the missile attack, the country has formally protested the incident at the United Nations headquarters in New York.
In a statement released on Saturday, Ghana’s Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the attack and called for an immediate, transparent, and impartial investigation. The ministry described the strike as a serious violation of international law and warned that targeting UN peacekeepers could amount to a war crime.
Ghana also urged the United Nations to take urgent steps to ensure the safety of its peacekeeping personnel and other members serving under the UNIFIL mission.
Meanwhile, the ongoing hostilities in Lebanon have taken a heavy toll on civilians. According to the Lebanese Ministry of Health, at least 217 people have been killed, while 798 others have been injured. Nearly 95,000 residents have also been displaced as missile strikes continue to hit cities and residential areas.