Israeli troops fire on UN HQ in southern Lebanon

The Israeli military campaign in the Middle East continued this Thursday (10), leaving dozens dead in Gaza and Beirut. Peacekeeping forces in southern Lebanon, in the Naqoura region, were also targeted by the Israeli army, provoking reactions from the United Nations, which speak of “war crimes”.

According to the organization, two soldiers were injured after an Israeli Merkava-4 tank fired at an observation tower at the headquarters of Unifil (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) in the city near the coast.

The attack caused the two United Nations soldiers to fall from the tower. “The injuries, fortunately, this time, are not serious, but they remain in hospital,” Unifil said in a statement.

It was the most serious incident involving the international force since Israel warned it to move from Lebanese positions near where it said Hezbollah fighters fired rockets into northern Israel. UN forces rejected the request for change.

Unifil was created in 1978 by the UN Security Council, but through resolution 1,701, in 2006, its mandate was extended as a way of guaranteeing peace on the so-called blue line (Lebanon’s border with Israel), amid the withdrawal of troops Israelis from Lebanon. Unifil has more than 10,000 military personnel from 50 UN member states, including eleven Brazilian military personnel.

Under the resolution, the military would be responsible for monitoring the end of aggression, supporting the Lebanese armed forces during Israel’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon and ensuring the safe return of displaced people.

This Thursday, however, Israeli soldiers also fired at a UN position — called “1-31” — in the village of Labbouneh, “hitting the entrance to the bunker where the peacekeepers were sheltering and damaging vehicles and a communications system “, he said.

Unifil reported observing an Israeli military drone flying inside the UN position to the entrance of the bunker. On Wednesday (9), Israeli soldiers “deliberately fired and disabled” the “monitoring cameras” at the position, according to the statement.

The Israeli military also “deliberately fired” at a second UN position called 1-32A – in the Ras Naqoura border area, where regular meetings were held before the conflict began, “damaging lighting and a relay station”, it said. Unifil.

Andrea Tenenti, a spokeswoman for the peacekeeping mission, said in an interview that the Israeli attacks were “very serious” and “worrying.” The incident also sparked protests in Washington, Paris, Rome, Madrid, Dublin and Jakarta, in addition to prompting a meeting of the United Nations Security Council this Thursday.

Tenenti said Unifil was in discussion with Israeli authorities “to understand what happened,” but emphasized that “attacking peacekeepers is a very serious violation, not only of Resolution 1701, but also of international humanitarian law.”

He said the Israeli military had already asked Unifil peacekeepers “to move from certain positions along the Blue Line, but we decided to stay because it is important that the UN flag is raised in southern Lebanon.”

“If the situation becomes impossible for the mission to operate in southern Lebanon… it will be up to the Security Council to decide how to move forward,” he said.

World reacts to Israeli attacks on the UN

A number of countries have condemned the international violations committed by the Israeli government in attacking United Nations peacekeepers’ positions in southern Lebanon.

Italy’s defense minister called the incident “intolerable” and said the attack was “not an accident.” Guido Crosetto said he “protested” with his Israeli counterpart and summoned the country’s ambassador to provide clarification.

“The shooting at UNIFIL headquarters and other incidents involving small arms fire are intolerable and must be avoided,” Crosetto said in a statement.

France also said it was awaiting explanations from Israel following the attacks on Unifil troops.

“France expresses its deep concern following the Israeli shots that hit the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon and condemns any attack on the security of Unifil,” the foreign ministry said in a statement.

“We await explanations from the Israeli authorities. The protection of peacekeepers is an obligation that applies to all parties to a conflict,” the French said.

Through a note, Itamaraty Brazil criticized the actions of Benjamin Netanyahu’s government in civilian areas of Lebanon, and called on Hezbollah and Israel to end the escalation of violence in the region.

Israel’s main ally, the United States, said it was “deeply concerned” by the reports, a spokesman for the National Security Council said.

“We understand that Israel carries out selective operations near the Blue Line to destroy Hezbollah’s infrastructure,” the spokesperson said, referring to the demarcation line between Israel and Lebanon. But, he added, “it is essential that they do not threaten the security of UN peacekeepers.”