Ghana has urged the Commonwealth to condemn a missile strike that injured four of its United Nations peacekeepers serving in southern Lebanon, describing the incident as a violation of the principles underpinning the UN Charter.
Speaking at a Commonwealth meeting in London on Sunday, Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, called for a unified response from member states and demanded an immediate investigation into the attack.
“This was not only an attack on Ghanaian troops but an attack on every principle that the UN Charter exists to defend,” Ablakwa said.
The soldiers were stationed with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) when their base in southern Lebanon was struck shortly before 18:00 local time on Friday.
Ghana’s military confirmed that all four injured soldiers are in stable condition. Three sustained minor injuries, while the fourth — initially listed as critically wounded — underwent surgery and is responding well to treatment.
Lebanon’s president, Joseph Aoun, blamed Israel for the strike. However, Ghanaian officials have so far refrained from publicly attributing responsibility.
The incident comes amid escalating tensions between Israel and the Iranian-backed group Hezbollah. Israeli forces have been carrying out strikes across Lebanon following rocket and drone attacks launched toward the Israeli city of Haifa, which Hezbollah said were in retaliation for the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Videos circulating on social media appeared to show significant damage at facilities housing Ghana’s peacekeeping battalion, with fires visible across parts of the base.
Ghana’s foreign ministry said it has formally lodged a protest with UN Secretary-General António Guterres, urging the United Nations to investigate the attack and hold those responsible accountable.
Ghana is one of the long-standing troop contributors to UN peacekeeping missions in Lebanon, where more than 600 Ghanaian soldiers currently serve as part of the multinational UNIFIL force monitoring the fragile ceasefire along the Israel–Lebanon border.