In a video message to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Prime Minister Netanyahu stated that the “time has come” to remove UNIFIL from “Hezbollah strongholds and combat zones.” The IDF explained that the tank entered the UNIFIL premises while its forces were under heavy fire from anti-tank missiles, adding that UN forces were not under threat during the operation.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) tanks destroyed the main gate of a United Nations peacekeeping facility in Ramyah, southern Lebanon, on Sunday, as reported by the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). This marked the fourth consecutive day that the UN peacekeeping forces had come under attack in the region.
UNIFIL revealed that smoke, resulting from several rounds of nearby gunfire, entered the camp, affecting 15 peacekeepers who suffered skin irritation and gastrointestinal issues. The statement also noted that on the previous day, IDF soldiers obstructed a critical logistical operation, further complicating the situation.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the ongoing tension in a video message to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. He urged for the withdrawal of UNIFIL from what he referred to as “Hezbollah strongholds and combat zones.” Netanyahu emphasized, “Mr. Secretary-General, get the UNIFIL forces out of harm’s way. It should be done right now, immediately.” He criticized the UN for failing to evacuate the peacekeepers, arguing that this inaction has left them vulnerable to Hezbollah. “Your refusal to evacuate UNIFIL soldiers has turned them into hostages of Hezbollah. This endangers both them and the lives of our soldiers,” Netanyahu warned.
On Sunday morning, UNIFIL peacekeepers at the Ramyah position observed three platoons of IDF soldiers crossing the Blue Line into Lebanon. Around 4:30 a.m., while peacekeepers were sheltering, two IDF Merkava tanks breached the facility’s main gate and forcibly entered the premises.
The IDF provided an explanation, stating that the tanks entered the UNIFIL premises under fire from anti-tank missiles in southern Lebanon. The IDF further explained that a smoke screen was deployed to protect their troops during the evacuation of injured soldiers. They asserted that no threat was posed to the UN peacekeepers during the incident. “Throughout the entirety of the incident, no danger was posed to UNIFIL forces by the IDF activity,” the IDF said, adding that their troops maintained communication with UNIFIL throughout the operation.
Later that morning, at around 6:40 a.m., UNIFIL peacekeepers reported the firing of several rounds approximately 100 meters north of their position. The resulting smoke entered the camp, even after the peacekeepers donned protective masks. According to UNIFIL, 15 peacekeepers experienced symptoms including skin irritation and gastrointestinal distress due to the smoke. Medical treatment was provided to the affected personnel.
Additionally, UNIFIL reported that on Saturday, IDF soldiers halted a crucial logistical movement near Meiss ej Jebel, preventing it from proceeding. The statement highlighted that this essential mission “could not be completed” due to the IDF’s intervention.
UNIFIL condemned the IDF’s actions as a violation of international law and Security Council Resolution 1701 (2006). “Breaching and entering a UN position is a further flagrant violation of international law and Security Council Resolution 1701,” UNIFIL stated. It further emphasized that any deliberate attack on peacekeepers is a serious breach of international humanitarian law and UN resolutions. “UNIFIL’s mandate provides for its freedom of movement in its area of operations, and any restriction on this is a violation of Resolution 1701,” the peacekeeping force added.
UNIFIL confirmed that it had requested an explanation from the IDF regarding what it described as “shocking violations” of the peacekeeping mission’s mandate.
Currently, more than 10,000 peacekeepers from 50 countries serve under UNIFIL, which operates under the Security Council. India, the third-largest contributor to the force, has deployed 903 soldiers. However, defense officials clarified that the Indian Battalion does not have personnel stationed at Ramyah.
In light of the escalating violence, 34 countries contributing troops to UNIFIL issued a joint statement on Saturday, later endorsed by six additional nations, including India. The statement condemned the ongoing attacks on peacekeepers and called on all parties to respect UNIFIL’s mission and ensure the safety of its personnel.
