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Mexican government condemned Israeli attacks against the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) early Sunday morning, leaving at least 15 troops inhaled by smoke from shells.
On its social media, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE) described the attacks as “gross violations of international law and UN Security Council resolutions.”
Likewise, he repeated his call for an immediate ceasefire in the area: “Mexico supports the United Nations mandate to protect civilians, reiterates its urgent call for an immediate ceasefire on the border between Lebanon and Israel and strict compliance by all parties with international law and international humanitarian law.”
On Sunday, the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon condemned forced entry of two Israeli tanks in the early hours at one of its positions in southern Lebanon and accused the Israeli army of blocking a “critical” logistics convoy in another area under its jurisdiction on Saturday.
According to a statement published on his Telegram account, the most serious incident occurred in the Ramya area, in the municipality of Bint Jbeil. First, UNIFIL peacekeepers, hiding in shelters, They watched as “three platoons of Israeli soldiers” crossed the border into Lebanon as part of the Israeli invasion of the area.
Around 4:30 a.m., “and while the peacekeepers were taking cover, two Israeli Merkava tanks “They destroyed the main gate of the position.” UNIFIL “and entered by force” to “demand several times that the lights on the base be turned off.”
Photo: Reuters Archive
The tanks left the scene 45 minutes after UNIFIL “issue a formal protest through the contact mechanism” who denounced the presence of the Israeli army as an element of risk for its Blue Helmets.
However, at about 06:40 am, at the same position, UNIFIL soldiers noticed launch of “several projectiles” of unknown nature about 100 meters north. However, the smoke they emitted reached the position and “fifteen peacekeepers suffered skin irritation and gastrointestinal reactions.” They all receive medical care.
UNIFIL also reported that on Saturday, several Israeli forces blocked UNIFIL logistics column of “critical importance” near Meiss-e-Jabal, near Marjayoun. “The operation,” UNIFIL points out, “could not be completed.”
The UN peacekeeping force reminds that “invasion and infiltration of a United Nations position is another flagrant violation of international law.” and that “any deliberate attack against peacekeepers constitutes a serious violation thereof.”
“We have asked the Israel Defense Forces explanation for these flagrant violations,” ends the statement.
Israel admits ‘mistakes’ after attacks on UNIFIL
One of the commanders of the Israeli forces that invaded southern Lebanon, General Yeftah Norkin, assured that in fact this “mistakes” without intent and the result of a “complex scenario” due to clashes with Hezbollah.
“We respect UNIFIL, there was no intention on our part and “We are investigating the incidents” indicated the general who headed the 146th Army Division in testimony collected by the newspaper Yedioth Ahronot.
An Israeli military statement later reported an incident that began with an anti-tank missile being fired at Israeli forces in the area. The attack left two Israeli soldiers ‘seriously wounded’ and several soldiers with “minor to moderate injuries.”
According to the preliminary investigation, “two battle tanks were deployed during the incident and for the purpose of evacuating the wounded.” They retreated a few meters towards the UNIFIL positions. because they could not advance due to the threat of shelling.”
Photo: Reuters Archive
“After the shelling was completed and the wounded were evacuated, the tanks left their positions. During the event, a masking shot was fired to facilitate medical evacuation,” Israel explains, which corresponds smoke screen that injured 15 UNIFIL soldiers. “Israeli forces maintained constant contact with UNIFIL. Throughout the entire incident, the activities of the Israeli Armed Forces did not pose any threat to the UNIFIL forces,” he emphasized.
What happened this morning is the latest episode in what has been an extremely busy week leading up to it. five peacekeepers were injured in Israeli attacks and which included this Sunday a direct request from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanya for the peace forces to abandon their positions.
Nityahu filed a lawsuit against UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. UNIFIL withdrawal and said that its members had become, in his opinion, “human shields” for Hezbollah militias.
“The time has come to withdraw UNIFIL from Hezbollah strongholds and combat zones,” Netanyahu said in an official statement addressed to the UN Secretary-General, who has no jurisdiction over peacekeeping forces.
Last Thursday, UNIFIL announced that two of its troops were injured when an Israeli shell hit its installations in Naqourawhere the headquarters is located, after the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reached several positions of this international contingent in the last hours. The next day another Israeli attack He wounded two other peacekeepers and a third was shot dead during the night. unknown origin.
Photo: Reuters Archive
Regarding the first event, the Israeli army admitted that he “opened fire in the area” before ensuring that he launched an investigation into the matter, and once again insisting that UNIFIL withdraw from its positions, something that UN forces categorically refused to do, while much of the international community, starting with allies such as the United States , called on Israel to stop deliberately endangering the Blue Helmets.
In turn, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Policy Josep Borrell called for a “thorough” investigation about Israeli attacks on UNIFIL. “We urgently await an explanation and a thorough investigation by the Israeli authorities into the attacks on UNIFIL, which plays a fundamental role in the stability of southern Lebanon.” said in a statement, in which he indicated that the public bloc “condemns all attacks on UN missions.”
27 expressed “Particularly serious concern for attacks by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on UNIFIL, which resulted in the injury of several peacekeepers.” “These attacks on UN peacekeeping troops constitute a serious violation of international law and are completely unacceptable. “These attacks must stop immediately,” he said.
(according to information from Europe Press And Aristegui News)