Aoun tells EU ambassador safety of UNIFIL personnel 'essential to Lebanon'

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has told EU ambassadors that the "safety of UNIFIL personnel is essential to Lebanon" after recent attacks on patrols.

In recent weeks, several incidents have seen civilians in Hezbollah strongholds confront UNIFIL patrols. The U.N. force sits on the ceasefire monitoring committee alongside Lebanon, Israel, France and the United States.

Referencing the attacks, Aoun said Thursday that "these were limited and isolated incidents, which are being addressed and contained," adding that the "safety of UNIFIL personnel is essential to Lebanon, and that cooperation with the army is close".

On Thursday, a patrol of the U.N. Interim Forces in Lebanon was blocked and pelted with stones by "several individuals in civilian clothes" in the southern village of Wadi Jilu, UNIFIL said.

"The (Lebanese army) arrived at the scene and the situation was brought under control," UNIFIL spokesman Andrea Tenenti said.