Israel fires on UN peacekeepers

[JohnD]

"Israeli forces fired a tank shell at the UN peacekeepers’ headquarters in southern Lebanon on Thursday, the UN said, injuring two international troops as Israel pursued its campaign against Hizbollah militants.

The strike on a watchtower within the headquarters in the village of Ras al-Naqoura was the third time in 24 hours that Israeli fire struck border posts used by the UN’s interim force in Lebanon, Unifil, the force said."

FT.com

And why not? An army that uses the machine gun of a tank to shred an 5 year old girl calling for help, and shells the ambulance coming to save her, has no concern for human life or international norms.

 

[transam]

Peace keepers

So what have they been doing there since the 70s



They may as well have all gone home years ago

What nationality were they ?

 

[JohnD]

"On Thursday, Unifil said its bases and headquarters were facing “deliberate” fire from Israeli forces, suggesting that they were targeted rather than being caught in the crossfire.

In one instance, IDF soldiers fired on a Unifil position in the southern village of Labbouneh on Wednesday, the international force said, adding that the entrance to the bunker where peacekeepers were sheltering had been hit.

“An IDF drone was observed flying inside the UN position up to the bunker entrance,” it said, adding that IDF soldiers “deliberately fired at and disabled” the border post’s perimeter-monitoring cameras the day before.

In another incident, Unifil said Israeli soldiers had “deliberately fired” on the peacekeepers’ headquarters in Ras al-Naqoura on Wednesday — a building where regular meetings between Israel, Lebanon and Unifil were held before the war — causing damage."

Ibid

 

[JohnD]

"The incidents prompted Italy to summon Israel’s ambassador. Rome’s defence minister, Guido Crosetto, said the incidents “may constitute war crimes”. “This is not a mistake and not an accident,” he said on Thursday."

Israel doesn't care.

 

[ajohn]

So what have they been doing there since the 70s

They are useless in this sort of situation. They are sort of ok when deals settle things down.
Think of Yugoslavia etc where they became piggy in the middle so the bombs went in.

 

[fillyboy]

Peace keepers

So what have they been doing there since the 70s



They may as well have all gone home years ago

What nationality were they ?

Seems to be a fair few Irish in the Unifil ranks. I believe they've been there since 2006 upholding UN resolution 1701.

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701 is a resolution that was intended to resolve the 2006 Lebanon War. The resolution calls for a full cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon to be replaced by Lebanese and United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) forces deploying to southern Lebanon, and the disarmament of armed groups including Hezbollah, with no armed forces other than UNIFIL and Lebanese military south of the Litani River, which flows about 29 km (18 mi) north of the border. It emphasizes Lebanon's need to fully exert government control and calls for efforts to address the unconditional release of abducted Israeli soldiers.

It was unanimously approved by the United Nations Security Council on 11 August 2006. The Lebanese cabinet unanimously approved the resolution on 12 August 2006. On the same day, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said that his militia would honor the call for a ceasefire. He also said that once the Israeli offensive stops, Hezbollah's rocket attacks on Israel would stop. On 13 August the Israeli Cabinet voted 24–0 in favor of the resolution, with one abstention. The ceasefire began on Monday, 14 August 2006 at 8 AM local time, after increased attacks by both sides.

As of 2024, the resolution was not fully implemented. Hezbollah and other armed groups in southern Lebanon have not withdrawn at all; in particular, Hezbollah has since significantly increased their weapons capabilities, amassing approx. 120,000-200,000 munitions (short-range guided ballistic missiles, short- and intermediate-range unguided ballistic missiles, and short- and long-range unguided rockets), and has increased the deployment of its armed forces south of the Litani River, developing tunnels, weapon stashes, airstrips and military installations.[1][2][3][4] Lebanon has also accused Israel of not fully withdrawing from Lebanese territories (northern part of Ghajar village, the Shebaa Farms, and the Kfarchouba hills), and of violating their air and maritime borders.[5]

 

[transam]

Total waste of time being there

What they been doing ? Protecting Hezbollah ?

Or counting Hezbollah missiles that are being fired

 

[Mottie]

Poor state of Israel. Being attacked from all sides who want to wipe them from the face of the earth. At least they can stand up to the bullying Arabs. Good on them, I say.

 

[fillyboy]

Total waste of time being there

What they been doing ? Protecting Hezbollah ?

Or counting Hezbollah missiles that are being fired

Laying in the sun watching the Hezbollah rockets fly past I believe.

 

[transam]

Laying in the sun watching the Hezbollah rockets fly past I believe.

Catching few rays and
Having a peace up

 

[algas]

Divvying up the pork pies and bacon rolls as no one else in the area will eat them

 

[JohnD]

It's no surprise to see that supporters of Israel's genocide despise the UN and peacekeeping efforts.

 

[Odds]

 

[Odds]

Italian Minister of Defence Guido Crosetto called the attack on the UNIFIL bases “totally unacceptable”. “This was not a mistake and not an accident,” Crosetto told a news conference. “It could constitute a war crime and represented a very serious violation of international military law,” he said.

The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs condemned the attack and said it was waiting for an explanation from Israel as to why the attack took place. “France expresses its deep concern following the Israeli shots that hit [UNIFIL] and condemns any attack on the security of UNIFIL,” the ministry said in a statement. “The protection of peacekeepers is an obligation that applies to all parties to a conflict,” the statement added.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs called the attack a “grave violation of international law”. “The Spanish government strongly condemns the Israeli fire that hit the UNIFIL headquarters in Naqoura,” the ministry said in a statement, adding that the security of the peacekeepers is “guaranteed”.

Irish leader Simon Harris condemned the attack and said that “any firing in the vicinity of UNIFIL troops or facilities is reckless and must stop”. Ireland has about 370 troops in the peacekeeping mission.

“Israel’s attack on UN forces, following its massacres against civilians in Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon is a manifestation of its perception that its crimes go unpunished,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. “The international community is obligated to ensure that Israel abides by the international law,” said the ministry in a statement. Turkey has five personnel at UNIFIL headquarters and contributes to the UNIFIL Maritime Task Force with one “corvette/frigate”.

Foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the attack on the peacekeepers, whose positions are well known, is an “inadmissible act, for which there is no justification”.

“Two Blue Helmets have been wounded and this is unacceptable. Any deliberate attack on peacekeepers is a grave violation of International Humanitarian Law and of the UNSC [UN Security Council] Resolution 1701: Israel has an obligation to respect both. Full accountability is needed,” Borrell wrote on X. He reiterated the EU’s “full support” to UNIFIL. European Council President Charles Michel said: “An attack against a UN peace mission is not responsible, is not acceptable and that’s why we call on Israel and we call on all sides to fully respect international humanitarian law.”

 

[ajohn]

The IDF have also shot out some of their cameras. I think it was an Indian faction that was hit with some of them being injured.

Interesting - they could continue with what they are able to do when they are sent in. Observe. If some one doesn't realise why that is their main function I feel rather sorry for them. Actually fighting needs conventional armed forces with all the gear they have. That means involvement of specific countries who's gov agrees with the need.

They have a number of stations there and it has been pointed out that even visually it is obvious what they are. Same applied to the vehicles they use.