Two Israeli military tanks crossed the Blue Line and entered a U.N. peacekeeping base at Ramyah, Lebanon, in what the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon calls a "shocking" violation of international law.
UNIFIL, which monitors and patrols the boundary it drew up between Lebanon and Israel known as the Blue Line, said on Sunday it observed three platoons of the Israel Defense Forces, or IDF, crossing into Lebanon.
Two IDF Merkava tanks destroyed the main gate and forcibly entered to demand the base turn out its lights, UNIFIL said. The tanks left 45 minutes later after UNIFIL complained IDF was putting peacekeepers in danger.
A couple hours later, 15 peacekeepers suffered skin irritation and gastrointestinal reactions when rounds were fired into the base emitting smoke. IDF soldiers also blocked a critical UNIFIL logistical movement.
"We have requested an explanation from the IDF from these shocking violations," UNIFIL said.
The incident is "deeply worrying," U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres' spokesman Stéphane Dujarric said on Sunday, emphasizing that the safety and security of U.N. personnel and property must be guaranteed and the inviolability of U.N. premises must be respected at all times.
"UNIFIL personnel and its premises must never be targeted," Dujarric said. "Attacks against peacekeepers are in breach of international law, including international humanitarian law. They may constitute a war crime."
A day earlier, the United Nations and 34 countries that contribute to peacekeeping in Lebanon called on Israel to immediately cease attacks on U.N. personnel. Five members of the U.N.'s multinational force were injured earlier this week.
UNIFIL's role is "particularly crucial in light of the escalating situation in the region," the countries, including Brazil, China, France, Turkey and the United Kingdom, said on Saturday. "We therefore strongly condemn recent attacks on UNIFIL peacekeepers. Such actions must stop immediately and should be adequately investigated."
One of its peacekeepers in a small city in southern Lebanon "was hit by gunfire due to ongoing military activity nearby," UNIFIL said. It was the second straight day of Israeli attacks on UNIFIL's headquarters.
The peacekeeper "underwent surgery at our Naqoura hospital to remove the bullet and is currently stable. We do not yet know the origin of the fire," it said. "Also last night, buildings in our U.N. position in Ramyah sustained significant damage due to explosions from nearby shelling."
On Friday, an Israeli military caterpillar hit the perimeter of UNIFIL headquarters and Israeli tanks moved in the proximity, UNIFIL said, noting that its peacekeepers face "very serious risks" while serving at the request of the U.N. Security Council.
"Any deliberate attack on peacekeepers is a grave violation of international humanitarian law and Security Council resolution 1701 (2006)," it said.
The Security Council's 10 elected members – five others hold permanent seats – expressed their "deep concern about the attacks on a number of UNIFIL positions" along with the "rising civilian casualties and suffering in Lebanon," Switzerland, which holds the council's monthly revolving presidency, said in a statement.
Amnesty calls the attacks 'a war crime'
IDF acknowledged its troops were responsible for an incident on Friday in which two Sri Lankan soldiers in Naqoura were injured. IDF said soldiers near the base opened fire after identifying a threat. Sri Lanka's foreign ministry strongly condemned the attack.
"The IDF is in contact with UNIFIL for coordination purposes and will continue to do so," IDF said. "The IDF is continuing to examine the circumstances of the incident."
On Thursday, Israeli tanks fired towards an observation tower, causing two Indonesian peacekeepers to fall and sustain injuries.
Amnesty International said "deliberately targeting a U.N. peacekeeping mission is a war crime."
Last month, the Israeli military launched a ground invasion into southern Lebanon as it escalated its response to rocket fire from Iran-backed Hezbollah. Israel and Hezbollah keep firing rockets and missiles across the Lebanon-Israel border.
Israeli air strikes on Thursday in the capital, Beirut, killed 22 people, all civilians, and injured 117 others, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati said.
Leaders of France, Italy and Spain jointly expressed outrage and condemned Israel's "recent targeting of UNIFIL," calling it "unjustifiable "and saying it must immediately end.
U.S. President Joe Biden said he is "absolutely, positively" urging Israel to stop firing at U.N. peacekeepers.
This story has been updated with additional details.
