UN peacekeepers in Lebanon said Israeli tanks broke through a gate to enter a Blue Helmet position in Lebanon Sunday, after blocking their movement the previous day. "At around 4:30 am, while peacekeepers were in shelters, two IDF [Israeli military] Merkava tanks destroyed the position's main gate and forcibly entered the position" in the Ramia area of southern Lebanon, the UNIFIL peacekeeping mission said. "They requested multiple times that the base turn out its lights. The tanks left about 45 minutes later after UNIFIL protested through our liaison mechanism."
A little over two hours later, "the firing of several rounds 100 meters (yards) north, which emitted smoke," the peacekeepers reported. "Despite putting on protective masks, 15 peacekeepers suffered effects, including skin irritation and gastrointestinal reactions, after the smoke entered the camp," it said, adding they were receiving treatment.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had earlier on Sunday called on the UN chief to remove peacekeepers in southern Lebanon out of "harm's way," after the force rejected repeated requests to abandon their positions. He said that the peacekeepers' presence had "the effect of providing Hezbollah terrorists with human shields."
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati condemned Netanyahu's call, saying it "represents a new chapter in the enemy's approach of not complying with international" norms.
On Saturday, Israeli soldiers "stopped a critical UNIFIL logistical movement near Mais al-Jabal, denying it passage," the force said, referring to an area in south Lebanon. UNIFIL asked for explanations from the Israeli army over what it said were violations against their force. "We have requested an explanation from the IDF from these shocking violations," UNIFIL said. "For the fourth time in as many days, we remind the IDF and all actors of their obligations to ensure the safety and security of UN personnel."
UNIFIL said Israeli tank fire on Thursday caused two Indonesian peacekeepers to fall off a watch tower in Naqoura. The following day it said explosions close to an observation tower in Naqoura wounded two Sri Lankan Blue Helmets, while Israel said it had responded to an "immediate threat" near a UN peacekeeping position. On Saturday UNIFIL said a peacekeeper in Naqoura "was hit by gunfire" on Friday night.
UNIFIL, with about 10,000 troops, is in southern Lebanon under the longstanding UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which stipulated that only the Lebanese army and UN peacekeepers should be deployed in south Lebanon.
French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday called it "absolutely unacceptable" that UN troops are "deliberately targeted by the Israeli armed forces."
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni "reiterated the unacceptability of UNIFIL being attacked by Israeli armed forces" during a call with Netanyahu on Sunday, her office said. She "stressed the absolute necessity that UNIFIL personnel security be guaranteed at all times."