Peacekeepers have 'been targeted several times' by Israeli troops, says UN mission in Lebanon

UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti said: 'I think the role of UNIFIL at the moment is more important than ever. We need to be here.'

The UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon said on Friday it had come under several "deliberate" attacks by Israeli forces in recent days and efforts to help civilians in villages in the war zone were being hampered by Israeli shelling.

The UN mission, known as UNIFIL and which includes Irish peacekeepers, is stationed in southern Lebanon to monitor hostilities along the demarcation line with Israel — an area that has seen fierce clashes this month between Israeli troops and Iran-backed Hezbollah fighters.