The situation in southern Lebanon has escalated, with the UN peacekeeping force (UNIFIL) reporting that Israeli tanks forced their way into one of its positions near Ramyah, along the border with Israel. According to UNIFIL, two Israel Defense Forces (IDF) tanks destroyed the gate of a UN post early Sunday morning, allegedly to request that the post turn off its lights. Two hours later, smoke from nearby rounds entered the camp, causing 15 peacekeepers to suffer skin irritations and gastrointestinal reactions.
The IDF provided a different account, stating that their tanks moved toward the UNIFIL post to evacuate wounded soldiers after an anti-tank missile attack. The IDF claimed two of their soldiers were seriously injured, and they used a smoke screen during the evacuation, maintaining that there was no threat to the UN personnel.
This incident marks another in a growing series of encounters between UNIFIL and Israeli forces. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has urged UNIFIL to withdraw its peacekeepers from areas of conflict with Hezbollah, but UNIFIL has refused, citing its mission to maintain peace in the region.
UNIFIL has condemned the breach of its post as a violation of international law, while Israel has faced international criticism for injuries to UN peacekeepers in recent operations. Despite these tensions, UNIFIL remains committed to its mandate, with nearly 10,000 peacekeepers from 50 countries stationed in Lebanon.
