At least 15 ‘blue helmets’ have been poisoned this morning by smoke from projectiles
UNIFIL also denounces an Israeli blockade of a logistics convoy in Marjayoun, this past Saturday
The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has denounced the forcible entry, this morning, of two Israeli tanks in one of its positions in southern Lebanon, that at least 15 of its troops were poisoned shortly after by smoke from projectiles and, finally, it has accused the Israeli Army of blocking a logistics convoy “of critical importance” in another area of its competence on Saturday.
According to a statement published on its Telegram account, the most serious incident took place this past dawn in the area of Ramyah, in the municipality of Bint Jbeil. First, UNIFIL peacekeepers, hiding in shelters, observed how “three platoons of Israeli soldiers” crossed the border with Lebanon as part of the Israeli invasion operation in the area.
At around 04:30 in the morning, “and while the peacekeepers were sheltered, two Israeli Merkava tanks destroyed the main gate of the UNIFIL position” and “forced their way into it” to “demand on multiple occasions that the base turn off the lights.”
The tanks left the site 45 minutes later, after UNIFIL “issued a formal protest through the contact mechanism” denouncing the presence of the Israeli Army as a risk element for its “blue helmets.”
However, at around 06:40 in the morning and in the same position, UNIFIL soldiers observed the launching of “several projectiles” of an unspecified nature about 100 meters to the north. However, the smoke they emitted reached the position and “fifteen peacekeepers have suffered skin irritation and gastrointestinal reactions.” All of them are receiving medical treatment.
UNIFIL also reports that yesterday, several Israeli soldiers blocked a UNIFIL logistics convoy “of essential importance” near Meiss ej Jebel, near Marjayoun. “The operation,” says UNIFIL, “could not be completed.”
The UN peacekeeping force recalls that “the intrusion and entry into a United Nations position is another flagrant violation of international law” and that “any deliberate attack against peacekeepers is a serious violation of it.”
“We have requested an explanation from the Israel Defense Forces regarding these outrageous violations,” concludes the statement.
The events of this morning are the latest episode of an extremely tense week that has resulted in five peacekeepers being injured by Israeli attacks and culminated this Sunday with an express request from the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, for the peacekeepers to abandon their positions.
Last Thursday, UNIFIL announced that two of its troops were injured by the impact of an Israeli projectile on its facilities in Naqoura, where the headquarters is located, after the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had hit several positions of this international contingent in the last few hours. The next day, another Israeli attack injured two other peacekeepers and a third was hit in the evening by a shot of unknown origin.
Regarding the first incident, the Israeli army admitted “having opened fire in the area” before assuring that it had launched an investigation into the matter and insisting once again that UNIFIL withdraw from its positions, something that the UN force has categorically refused to do while a good part of the international community, starting with allies such as the United States, has asked Israel to stop deliberately endangering the ‘blue helmets’.
UNIFIL COMMANDER VISITS ITALIAN TROOPS ATTACKED BY ISRAEL
On the other hand, the commander of UNIFIL, Spanish general Aroldo Lázaro, has visited the Italian troops of the contingent that were attacked on Thursday by Israel in what the Italian Minister of Defense, Guido Crosetto, defined as a war crime and motivated the immediate summons of the Israeli ambassador in Italy, Jonathan Peled, to receive a formal protest.
“Peacekeepers in southern Lebanon are working in harsh conditions,” the Spanish general said on his X social network account this Sunday.
“Yesterday (Saturday) I was able to visit the Italian peacekeepers whose position was attacked by the IDF and I witnessed intense clashes between the IDF and Hezbollah forces nearby. I am deeply proud of their courage and commitment,” the Spanish soldier added.
