Israeli tanks forcibly entered a United Nations peacekeeping base in southern Lebanon on Sunday, according to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
UNIFIL reported that two Israeli Merkava tanks destroyed the main gate of a UN base before entering the premises. Shortly after the tanks left, shells exploded about 100 meters from the base, releasing smoke that caused 15 UN personnel to fall ill despite wearing gas masks. UNIFIL did not specify who fired the shells or what type of smoke affected the personnel, though all have since received medical treatment.
The Israeli military provided a different account of the event. According to military spokesperson Nadav Shoshani, Hezbollah forces had launched anti-tank missiles at Israeli troops nearby, wounding 25 soldiers. Shoshani stated that the tanks damaged the UNIFIL gate while retreating under fire and did not intend to target the base. He emphasized that the deployment of a smoke screen to cover the evacuation of wounded soldiers posed no threat to the UN personnel.
The incident occurred hours before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly urged the United Nations to withdraw its peacekeeping forces from southern Lebanon. Netanyahu argued that UNIFIL’s presence near Hezbollah strongholds could unintentionally provide cover for the group’s fighters. He claimed that Israel’s requests for UNIFIL to relocate had been repeatedly ignored, increasing the risk to both peacekeepers and civilians in the area.
This is a Hezbollah weapon cache, discovered less than 500 meters (1/3 of a mile) from a @UNIFIL_ post in southern Lebanon.
What has UNIFIL been doing since 2006? pic.twitter.com/DmJORMGDvR
— Israel War Room (@IsraelWarRoom) October 13, 2024
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that any attacks on peacekeepers may constitute war crimes under international law. The UN also reiterated that targeting peacekeeping personnel violates Security Council Resolution 1701, which established the UNIFIL mission to monitor southern Lebanon.
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati criticized Netanyahu’s call for UNIFIL’s withdrawal, accusing Israel of disregarding international norms. Hezbollah, which has been engaged in armed conflict with Israel since October, denied using the proximity of peacekeepers to shield its fighters. The group condemned Israeli strikes near UNIFIL positions and called on the international community to hold Israel accountable.
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