UNIFIL: Israeli Tanks Forcibly Enter UN Sites in Southern Lebanon; 15 Peacekeepers Injured

Oct 13, 2024, 02:19 PM

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) reported that Israeli military forces have forcibly entered their positions in southern Lebanon. According to UNIFIL, at dawn on Sunday, Israeli tanks destroyed the main gate and entered a UN site in Ramiyah after earlier incidents where an Israeli military bulldozer knocked over barriers at UN position 1-31 near the Blue Line in Labbouneh. UNIFIL described these actions as "serious violations of UN Security Council resolution 1701 and of our bilateral arrangements with the IDF," and has requested clarification from the Israeli army regarding these "shocking violations." Fifteen UN troops were reportedly injured by smoke after bursts of gunfire were heard during the incidents. UNIFIL protested through their liaison mechanism, stating that the Israeli Defense Forces' presence was putting peacekeepers in danger.