Ten European countries and the European Union called in a joint statement on Tuesday to ensure the «safety and security» of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), after three of its soldiers were recently killed. The foreign ministers of Belgium, Cyprus, Croatia, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, and the United Kingdom, along with the EU's High Representative, stated: «We demand that all parties, under all circumstances, ensure the safety and security of UNIFIL personnel and premises». The ministers added: «We reaffirm our steadfast support for the UNIFIL mission and call for ensuring that de-escalation channels remain open». They condemned «the unacceptable loss of life».
