UN peacekeepers hurt in Cyprus buffer zone

18 August, 2023 Illustrative photo of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus. Photo from open sources. Turkish Cypriots attacked UN peacekeepers who were preventing the controversial construction of a road in the buffer zone.

The UN mission on the island reported this. The buffer zone is actually a territory belonging to the Republic of Cyprus. It considers the Turkish military presence on the island since the 1974 war to be an occupation.

A video from eyewitnesses shows a bulldozer ramming the UN SUVs. "Threats to the safety of UN peacekeepers and damage to UN property are unacceptable," UNFICYP stated.

On Thursday, a United Nations mission warned the Northern Cyprus authorities against "unauthorized construction within the UN buffer zone." "The United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) condemns the assaults against UN peacekeepers and damage to UN vehicles by personnel from the Turkish Cypriot side this morning," UNFICYP said in a statement. According to the statement the incident took place in a buffer zone near Pyla/Pile, the only village where Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots live side by side.

The UN buffer zone in Cyprus (marked in green).

Images from open sources.

The European Union, the United Kingdom, France, and the United States condemned the incident. In a joint statement, the countries expressed "serious concern about the start of unauthorized construction" of the road. In its statement, the UN mission called on the Turkish Cypriot side to respect the UN's authority in the buffer zone and to refrain from any actions that could lead to further escalation of tensions.

In addition, the UN immediately calls for the withdrawal of all personnel and equipment from the buffer zone.

UNFICYP has stated that they are determined to block any construction work and will remain in the buffer zone area.

As Militarnyi previously reported, the Republic of Cyprus is considering the purchase of Israeli Merkava tanks.