The UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon said on Friday it had come under several “deliberate” attacks by Israeli forces in recent days and efforts to help civilians in villages in the war zone were being hampered by Israeli shelling. The UN mission, known as UNIFIL, is stationed in southern Lebanon to monitor hostilities along the demarcation line with Israel - an area that has seen fierce clashes this month between Israeli troops and Iran-backed Hezbollah fighters. Two peacekeepers were wounded by an Israeli strike near a watchtower last week, prompting criticism from some of the 50 countries that provide troops to the 10,000-strong force.For the latest updates on the Israel-Palestine conflict, visit our dedicated page. “We’ve been targeted several times, five times under deliberate attack,” UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti said by video link from Beirut. “I think the role of UNIFIL at the moment is more important than ever. We need to be here.”