As Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli military fight for the survival of their country, the United Nations has thrown a wrench in the works by claiming that Israeli tanks “forcibly entered” the base of its peacekeeping force in Lebanon.
What on earth is happening?
At a glance:
- Israeli tanks reportedly entered a UN peacekeeping base in Lebanon, causing an incident that led to sickened personnel and international outcry.
- Prime Minister Netanyahu has called for UN peacekeepers to withdraw from southern Lebanon, accusing them of shielding Hezbollah.
- The incident has raised concerns about violations of international humanitarian law and attacks on peacekeepers.
Israeli tanks allegedly entered a United Nations peacekeeping base in southern Lebanon on Sunday, according to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil). Two Merkava tanks reportedly destroyed the base’s main gate and entered the compound before dawn. Following the tanks’ exit, shells exploded 100 meters from the base, causing smoke to engulf the area and resulting in 15 UN personnel requiring medical treatment despite wearing gas masks.
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The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) provided a different account, stating that Hezbollah militants had fired anti-tank missiles at Israeli troops, wounding 25. The IDF explained that a tank helping evacuate soldiers inadvertently backed into the UN post while under heavy fire. They denied any intentional attack on the peacekeepers.
This incident follows a series of recent strikes that have injured five UN peacekeepers, mostly attributed to Israeli forces. UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed concern, warning that attacks on peacekeepers could constitute war crimes.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded to the situation by calling for the withdrawal of UN peacekeepers from Hezbollah-controlled areas, accusing them of providing the militant group with human shields. The Israeli military has reportedly asked UN forces to move further from the border, while Hezbollah has denied using peacekeepers as protection.
The confrontation between Israel and Hezbollah has escalated in recent weeks, resulting in significant casualties and displacement in Lebanon. Meanwhile, the U.S. has bolstered Israel’s air defense capabilities by deploying a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery in response to missile attacks from Iran, which continues to fuel tensions in the region.
