Israel demanded that the United Nations Interim Peacekeeping Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) withdraw north of the Lebanon-Israel border. When this demand was not met, it targeted a UN watchtower. After the initial attack, which injured two UN soldiers, some countries condemned Israel, but no sanctions were brought to the table. Following yesterday’s incident, Israel reportedly struck the same location again today, wounding two additional UN soldiers.
Hours before the Israeli attack on the UNIFIL watchtower, a UNIFIL spokesman told the Walla news website that Israel had requested they evacuate their positions along the Lebanese border. This request was rejected. Israel had made a similar demand prior to launching its ground invasion of Lebanon.
Shortly after news of the request broke, an Israeli Merkava tank opened fire on an observation tower at UNIFIL headquarters in southern Lebanon, injuring two peacekeepers. Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi confirmed that the two injured soldiers were from the Indonesian contingent and had suffered minor injuries.
Israel acknowledged that its forces were operating in the area and claimed that Hezbollah fighters, with whom it is engaged in combat, were stationed near the UN outposts. Israel stated that it had instructed UNIFIL personnel to take cover in protected areas before firing on the forces in the region. However, according to UNIFIL, this was not the first attack. There had been two other incidents in the past two days, though no casualties were reported.
“Any deliberate attack on peacekeepers is a serious violation of international humanitarian law,” UNIFIL said in a statement following the attack. The organization also indicated it was taking steps to address the situation with the Israeli military.
Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, told the UN Security Council—convened at France’s request to discuss developments in Lebanon—that Israel had entered numerous areas with Merkava tanks and construction equipment, and warned that the safety of UN peacekeepers was at increasing risk.
Lacroix noted that UNIFIL has been unable to carry out its operational duties since 23 September. He further mentioned that Hezbollah had previously established a military presence near UN facilities, and now, the Israeli army was doing the same.
He emphasized that the safety of peacekeepers must be guaranteed by all parties involved. Lacroix also stressed that UNIFIL had formally protested against the Israeli military’s presence near UN facilities, and reiterated that Israel must respect the status, personnel, and infrastructure of UNIFIL.
Italy: ‘This was not a mistake’
Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto stated that the attack was not an accident and could constitute a war crime. He demanded an explanation from the Israeli ambassador.
Italy is the second-largest contributor to UNIFIL after Indonesia. Indonesia’s ambassador to the UN, Hari Prabowo, said that the incident “clearly shows how Israel has placed itself above international law, impunity, and the shared values of peace.”
In a separate statement, Spain’s foreign ministry called on all parties to respect the safety of UNIFIL troops and guarantee their protection.
‘We do not expect sanctions’
Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, stated in New York that Israel remains focused on fighting Hezbollah and recommended that “UNIFIL move 5 kilometers north to avoid danger as fighting intensifies.” An Israeli diplomat told the Times of Israel that while some countries condemned Israel at the UN Security Council over the incident, sanctions were not anticipated.
New strike reported
Meanwhile, Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) reported today that the Israeli army targeted the main entrance of UNIFIL’s command center in Ras Nakura with artillery shells. A Merkava tank also allegedly hit a UNIFIL observation tower, causing material damage. Two soldiers from the Sri Lankan battalion were injured in the attack.
