The United Nations and Israel have presented conflicting accounts of an alleged Israeli violation at a UN peacekeeping base in southern Lebanon. The incident occurred early Sunday morning, raising tensions between the two sides amid ongoing conflict with Hezbollah.
UNIFIL Accuses Israeli Tanks of Forcibly Entering Base
According to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), two Israeli Merkava tanks breached the gates of a UN peacekeeping base before dawn. The tanks reportedly destroyed the main gate and entered the base without permission. UNIFIL stated that after the tanks departed, shells exploded approximately 100 meters from the base, releasing smoke that caused several U.N. personnel to fall ill.
In a statement, UNIFIL described the event as a serious violation and expressed concern over the safety of its peacekeeping personnel.
Israeli Military’s Account: A Tank Backing into the Base Under Fire
In contrast, the Israeli military provided a different narrative, claiming that Hezbollah militants had fired anti-tank missiles at Israeli troops, wounding 25 soldiers. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) stated that the attack took place near a UNIFIL post, and one of its tanks, which was helping evacuate the wounded, accidentally backed into the UNIFIL base while under fire.
Nadav Shoshani, the IDF’s international spokesperson, emphasized that the tank was not intentionally storming the base but was attempting to move to safety. He denied any deliberate attempt to enter the base and described the incident as part of a chaotic evacuation effort during heavy fire.
Israel Denies Deliberate Violation of UN Base
The Israeli military further argued that the brief incursion into the UN base was not an attack but a necessary maneuver to evacuate wounded soldiers. They stated that their actions did not pose a threat to UNIFIL personnel and accused Hezbollah of using the peacekeeping force as a “smokescreen” to conceal their own activities.
Netanyahu Urges Withdrawal of UNIFIL from Hezbollah Strongholds
Earlier on Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to withdraw UNIFIL from Hezbollah-controlled areas in southern Lebanon. Netanyahu argued that the presence of UN peacekeepers in these regions effectively shields Hezbollah militants from Israeli military operations.
“The time has come for you to withdraw UNIFIL from Hezbollah strongholds and from the combat zones,” Netanyahu said. “The IDF has requested this repeatedly and has met with repeated refusal, which has the effect of providing Hezbollah terrorists with human shields.”
Diverging Narratives Fuel Tension in Ongoing Conflict
The differing accounts from the United Nations and Israel have added another layer of complexity to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. While Israel insists that the incursion was an accident during a rescue mission, the UN views it as a deliberate attack and a violation of international law.
These contrasting narratives raise questions about the neutrality of both sides and the role of UNIFIL in the conflict. Some observers have begun to speculate whether the UN’s presence in southern Lebanon is inadvertently benefiting Hezbollah, further complicating the situation on the ground.
