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Israeli tanks breach UNIFIL base amid calls for peacekeeper evacuation

Israeli tanks breached a UN peacekeeping base in southern Lebanon on 13 October, sparking condemnation from Israel’s allies. Prime Minister Netanyahu called for UNIFIL’s withdrawal from combat zones, accusing it of shielding Hezbollah militants. UNIFIL reported increasing attacks, leading to concerns about the force’s safety and regional stability.

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Israeli tanks breached a United Nations peacekeeping base in southern Lebanon on 13 October, prompting condemnation and escalating tensions between Israel and its allies. The incident marks the latest in a series of reported violations involving Israel and the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged the United Nations to evacuate the peacekeepers from combat zones, particularly areas under Hezbollah’s control.

In a statement to UN Secretary General António Guterres, Netanyahu claimed the peacekeepers’ presence provided cover for Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group, by acting as “human shields.”

Netanyahu’s appeal followed several alleged attacks on peacekeepers in recent days.

UNIFIL confirmed the tank incursion at one of its bases, describing it as part of a pattern of Israeli violations, including the wounding of five peacekeepers.

Italy, one of the largest contributors to UNIFIL, has also expressed deep concern. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned the attacks during a phone call with Netanyahu. She reiterated the unacceptability of Israeli strikes targeting UN peacekeepers, reflecting growing unease among Western allies.

UNIFIL OPERATIONS UNDER THREAT

UNIFIL, established in 1978 to monitor peace in southern Lebanon, has frequently been caught in the middle of Israeli-Hezbollah conflict.

Following Israel’s 2006 war with Hezbollah, UN Security Council Resolution 1701 mandated that the region remain free of unauthorised military forces. However, Israel has accused UNIFIL of failing to prevent Hezbollah from stockpiling weapons and operating in the area.

Over the past weeks, hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah have intensified. UNIFIL reported attacks on peacekeeping equipment, such as watchtowers and surveillance systems, compromising their ability to monitor the area. Peacekeeping operations have been nearly suspended since late September, with over 300 peacekeepers temporarily relocated to larger bases for safety.

The escalating violence has also raised alarms in other nations contributing to UNIFIL.

In addition to Italy, France and Spain—both of which have significant contingents in the force—have issued statements condemning Israeli actions against peacekeepers.

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz responded by reiterating Israel’s dissatisfaction with the UN, particularly its perceived failure to condemn Iran’s missile attacks in early October.

Late on Sunday, UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said: “Unifil peacekeepers remain in all positions and the UN flag continues to fly.

“The secretary-general reiterates that Unifil personnel and its premises must never be targeted. Attacks against peacekeepers are in breach of international law, including international humanitarian law. They may constitute a war crime,” he said.

US urges restraint, heightened tensions in region

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin expressed concern over the attacks on peacekeeper positions in a call with Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.

Austin stressed the need for Israel to ensure the safety of UNIFIL personnel, as well as that of the Lebanese military, which is not directly involved in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.

Tensions in the region remain high following the 7 October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel. Hezbollah’s involvement has further complicated the situation, with fears that Israeli military actions could provoke a larger regional conflict involving Iran.

The latest reports suggest Israel may retaliate against Iran for an earlier missile attack on 1 October. Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araqchi, declared that Iran has “no red lines” in its defence, heightening the risk of further escalation.

Lebanon’s government reported over 2,100 deaths and 10,000 injuries resulting from the conflict over the past year, with significant casualties occurring in recent weeks.

While the Lebanese death toll does not distinguish between civilians and combatants, it includes numerous women and children, highlighting the human cost of the ongoing violence.

Calls for peace amid fears of wider conflict

The possibility of a broader war looms large, with neighbouring Iraq also expressing concern. Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, speaking alongside Araqchi, warned of the dangers an all-out war could pose to global energy markets.

“We call on all influential and concerned countries to work to stop the war and start a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon,” Hussein said, underscoring the geopolitical risks involved.

As of now, the fate of UNIFIL remains uncertain. Despite Israel’s calls for their evacuation, UN peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix insisted that the force would continue its mission.

Lacroix acknowledged, however, that the safety of peacekeepers had become “increasingly jeopardised,” with their ability to monitor violations severely restricted.

UNIFIL has been a key stabilising factor in southern Lebanon for decades, but with Israeli-Hezbollah hostilities worsening, its continued presence in the region could lead to further conflicts involving international forces.

The United Nations is facing increasing pressure to either reinforce or reassess its peacekeeping mission in one of the Middle East’s most volatile regions.

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