UNIFIL reports violation of perimeter by Israeli forces and calls for evacuation

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has reported violations by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) against its personnel and positions in southern Lebanon.

In one yesterday on the social media platform

The statement continued: “At around 4:30 a.m., while the peacekeepers were in shelters, two IDF Merkava tanks destroyed the main gate of the position and forcibly entered the position. They repeatedly demanded that the base turn off its lights.”

The attack resulted in injuries to 15 peacekeepers, with several suffering from skin irritation caused by smoke from shells fired at the site. UNIFIL called the raid a shocking breach and has asked the Israeli military to clarify.

The statement noted that Israeli troops left the site 45 minutes later after UNIFIL protested through their liaison mechanism, stressing that the IDF’s presence endangered the peacekeepers.

Earlier on Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for the immediate withdrawal of UNIFIL troops from southern Lebanon. In a televised address, Netanyahu called on UN Secretary-General António Guterres to remove UNIFIL from Hezbollah’s strongholds and combat zones, saying its continued presence endangers both peacekeepers and Israeli soldiers.

Netanyahu claimed that UNIFIL had previously ignored Israel’s withdrawal demands and claimed that Hezbollah was using the peacekeepers as human shields. He claimed that the continued presence of UNIFIL troops makes them hostages of Hezbollah and endangers their lives and those of Israeli soldiers.

In response, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati rejected Netanyahu’s call and reaffirmed Lebanon’s commitment to UN Resolution 1701 and UNIFIL’s role in maintaining peace. Mikati also called on the international community to take a firm stance against what he called Israel’s ongoing aggression against Lebanon.