Israeli Military Shoots UN Peacekeeping Forces In South Lebanon

UNIFIL troops patrol. (Source: UNIFIL)

JAKARTA - United Nations peacekeeping forces who are members of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) mission said on Sunday, Israeli soldiers had opened fire on their peacekeeping forces from a tank near a military position south of the country.

UNIFIL has teamed up with Lebanese soldiers to consolidate a ceasefire between Israel and the Lebanese militant group, Hezbollah, which was reached last November.

"This morning, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) opened fire on UNIFIL peacekeepers from a near-in Merkava tank that Israel has established in Lebanese territory," the peacekeeping force said in a statement, adding heavy machine gun bullets hit about five meters from their personnel. , reported Al Arabiya from AFP November 17.

The troops said peacekeeping forces could "go safely thirty minutes later" after the tanks withdrew into Israeli positions.

UNIFIL said the shooting "is a serious violation of UN Security Council resolution 1701," which ended the 2006 conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, and also became the basis for the ceasefire last November.

The ceasefire aims to end the hostilities of more than a year between the two sides that broke out after the start of the Gaza war.

Under the agreement, Israel should withdraw its troops from southern Lebanon, but still maintain its troops in five areas deemed strategic.

Israel also continues to carry out routine attacks in Lebanon, especially by saying that the attack targeted Hezbollah's location and operation.

It is known that Sunday's incident is not the first time UNIFIL has accused Israel of endangering its peacekeeping forces.

"Once again, we call on the IDF to stop any aggressive behavior and attacks on or near peacekeeping forces," UNIFIL stressed.

Separately, the Israeli military said it had no intention of shooting at United Nations peacekeepers in southern Lebanon, saying its troops thought they were "suspects" and fired warning shots.

"After a review, it was determined that the suspects were UN soldiers who were patrolling the area and classified as suspects due to bad weather conditions," the IDF said in a statement.

"No intentional shots were directed at UNIFIL soldiers," they added.