India on Monday lodged a protest with Israel after one of its soldiers, part of United Nations peace-keeping mission in Lebanon, was injured in military action there.
New Delhi also wanted to know from the UN the fate of the nearly 2000-strong United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon in view of the increasing hostility between Israel and Lebanon.
India is concerned over the safety of its 672-soldier contingent.
The soldier, manning the Sheikh Abad Tomb post in Shiite-dominated southern Lebanon, was injured in heavy shelling on Sunday, but evacuated to safety, according to reports reaching army headquarters in New Delhi on Monday.
The soldier, whose identity was not known, was hit by a shell, Sikri said.
India protested to Israel against this and asked them to ensure that such incidents do not recur, Secretary (East) in the External Affairs Ministry Rajiv Sikri told reporters here.
Israel expressed regret over it, he said.
Sikri said India was in touch with the UN to know about the fate of the peace-keeping mission in view of the escalation in fighting between Israel and Lebanon.
"Safety of our soldiers is very important," the secretary said adding, the possibility of the UN itself shutting down the peace-keeping mission was not ruled out.
