Again, UNIFIL Reports Israeli Tank Fired at its Troops near Lebanon

UNIFIL troops on the Israel-Lebanon border. (WIkimedia Commons/Irish Defence Forces)

JAKARTA - The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said an Israeli tank fired near its peacekeepers on Monday, warning such attacks were "becoming more frequent and worrying."

UNIFIL has repeatedly reported Israeli fire near or at its personnel in recent months, and less than two weeks ago said fire from Israeli positions hit near peacekeepers twice.

"UNIFIL peacekeepers observed two Merkava tanks moving" from an Israeli army position inside Lebanese territory "further into Lebanon" on Monday," the force said in a statement, AFP reported (13/1).

UNIFIL has acted as a buffer between Israel and Lebanon for decades and has recently been working with the Lebanese army to support a year-long ceasefire between Israel and the militant group Hezbollah.

Under a November 2024 ceasefire, Israel was supposed to withdraw its troops from southern Lebanon, but it still stationed them in five areas considered strategic and carried out regular raids in Lebanon, usually saying they targeted Hezbollah sites and operatives.

"The peacekeepers requested through the liaison channel that the tanks stop their activities," the statement said.

Then, "one of the tanks fired three rounds from its main gun, with two shots hitting a target about 150 meters away from the peacekeepers," UNIFIL said, adding "as the peacekeepers moved away for safety, they continued to be tracked by lasers from the tanks."

The statement reported no casualties, but noted UNIFIL had informed the Israeli army of its activity in the area beforehand.

"Such attacks on identifiable peacekeepers are becoming more frequent," the statement said, urging a halt to such incidents.

The statement called it a "serious violation" of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah and became the basis of the current ceasefire.

It is known that under heavy US pressure and concerns about an Israeli attack, Beirut has committed to disarming Hezbollah, and last week the Lebanese army said it had completed the task in an area near the border.

UNIFIL's current mandate expires this year, and the force is due to leave Lebanon by 2027.