On Sunday morning, Israeli soldiers crossed into Lebanon, breaching a sensitive border area known as the Blue Line, which separates the two countries. The situation took a dramatic turn when Israeli troops forced their way into a United Nations (UN) base in the southern Lebanese village of Ramyah.
According to the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, known as UNIFIL, this incident is a serious violation of international law. The peacekeepers reported that three platoons of Israeli soldiers crossed the Blue Line, while two heavy Israeli Merkava tanks destroyed the main gate of the UN base and entered the area. The soldiers ordered the peacekeepers to turn off all lights at the base. While this was happening, the peacekeepers were hiding in shelters to avoid the escalating tension.
UNIFIL called this action a direct breach of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which was created in 2006 to maintain peace in the region. The UN stated that any attack on peacekeepers is considered a serious offense under international law.
Things didn’t stop there. Just two hours later, UN peacekeepers at the same base reported hearing gunfire nearby. Several rounds were fired about 300 feet north of their position, causing thick smoke to drift into the camp. This smoke led to physical reactions among the UN troops, including skin irritation and gastrointestinal issues. The peacekeepers are now receiving medical treatment for their symptoms.
This wasn’t the only tense encounter between Israeli forces and UN peacekeepers. In another part of southern Lebanon, Israeli soldiers blocked UNIFIL vehicles from passing through a critical area near the border village of Meiss ej Jebel. UNIFIL emphasized that they are supposed to have freedom of movement to fulfill their mission and ensure the safety of their personnel. They demanded that the Israeli military respect UN positions and allow them to continue their work.
This is part of a larger escalation in the region. UNIFIL’s headquarters and other positions have been repeatedly shelled by Israeli forces in recent days, leading to more damage and even injuries among peacekeepers. On Friday, two peacekeepers were wounded after Israeli shelling struck their positions in the town of Naqoura.
Despite the increasing danger, the UN peacekeepers refuse to abandon their posts in southern Lebanon. Israeli forces have asked them to retreat at least five kilometers from the Blue Line, but the peacekeepers have decided to stay, believing that their presence is crucial for maintaining peace. The UNIFIL spokesperson, Andrea Tenenti, stressed that flying the UN flag in this region is vital, even as the situation worsens.
Tenenti also warned that the conflict between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah forces could soon spiral into a full-blown regional war with devastating consequences. As Israeli airstrikes continue to hit southern Lebanon, killing thousands and displacing over a million people, the fear of further escalation looms large. However, UNIFIL remains hopeful that diplomacy can provide a way out of this crisis before it gets worse.
UNIFIL statement (13 October 2024)
Early this morning, peacekeepers at a UN position in Ramyah observed three platoons of IDF soldiers crossing the Blue Line into Lebanon.
https://telegram.org/js/telegram-widget.js?22At around 4:30 a.m., while peacekeepers were in shelters, two IDF Merkava tanks destroyed the position’s main gate and forcibly entered the position. 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, saying that IDF presence was putting peacekeepers in danger.
At around 6:40 a.m., peacekeepers at the same position reported the firing of several rounds 100 metres north, which emitted smoke. Despite putting on protective masks, ifteen peacekeepers suffered effects, including skin irritation and gastrointestinal reactions, after the smoke entered the camp. The peacekeepers are receiving treatment.
In addition, yesterday, IDF soldiers stopped a critical UNIFIL logistical movement near Meiss ej Jebel, denying it passage. The critical movement could not be completed.
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 and property and to respect the inviolability of UN premises at all times.
Breaching and entering a UN position is a further flagrant violation of international law and Security Council resolution 1701 (2006). Any deliberate attack on peacekeepers is a grave violation of international humanitarian law and Resolution 1701. 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.
We have requested an explanation from the IDF for these shocking violations.
