Israeli Tanks Breach UN Position in Southern Lebanon, Netanyahu Demands Force Evacuation
Tensions in southern Lebanon escalated on Sunday as Israeli tanks breached a UN peacekeeping position, raising serious concerns about the safety of UNIFIL personnel amidst the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, Al Jazeera reports.
According to a UNIFIL statement, two Israeli tanks “destroyed the position’s main gate and forcibly entered the position,” prompting a subsequent shelling incident that left 15 UN personnel requiring treatment for smoke inhalation, despite wearing gas masks. While UNIFIL did not disclose the origin of the shells or the suspected toxic substance, the incident occurred shortly after Israeli forces reported an attack by Hezbollah fighters near the UN position.
The Israeli military stated that Hezbollah fighters fired anti-tank missiles at Israeli troops, injuring 25 soldiers. The military claims that a tank assisting in the evacuation of the wounded soldiers, under fire, backed into the UNIFIL post and that a smoke screen was deployed for cover.
The incident follows a call from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the UN to evacuate the peacekeeping force from combat areas in Lebanon. Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati strongly condemned this demand.
Hezbollah denies Israeli accusations of using UNIFIL positions as cover for its fighters, stressing that UN peacekeepers are protected under international humanitarian law.
The escalating situation comes amidst a surge in violence between Israel and Hezbollah, marked by near-daily exchanges of fire since October 2023. The conflict, initially sparked by Israel’s assault on Gaza, has resulted in over 2,100 casualties in Lebanon, primarily over the past few weeks. The UN has reported five peacekeepers wounded in a series of attacks targeting their positions and personnel, with most incidents attributed to Israeli forces.
In light of the deteriorating situation, UN peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix recently informed the UN Security Council that “the safety and security of peacekeepers is now increasingly in jeopardy,” with operational activities virtually halted since September 23.
The United States and European nations have denounced Israel’s actions, demanding an end to the attacks on UN peacekeepers. President Biden explicitly called on Israel to cease fire against UNIFIL personnel.
