Blinken says UN peacekeepers' safety in Lebanon 'essential'

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told Lebanon's prime minister Friday that U.N. peacekeepers in the country must be protected, the State Department said, after the force reported further firing by U.S. ally Israel.

Blinken during the meeting in London "expressed support for the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon and underscored that the safety and security of their personnel is essential", the State Department said in a statement.

United Nations peacekeepers had said Friday that Israeli soldiers fired at one of their observation posts in south Lebanon this week, adding the security situation was "extremely challenging" amid other unidentified attacks.

On Tuesday, "IDF (Israeli army) soldiers fired at" an observation post near the border village of Dhayra, a statement from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said, adding "the duty guards withdrew to avoid being shot."