Israeli tanks have forcibly entered a United Nations peace base in southern Lebanon, according to a UN statement.
“Two IDF Merkava tanks destroyed the main gate of the position and forcibly entered the position. They requested several times that the base turn off its lights,” the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said in a statement.
It added that the tanks left about 45 minutes later after UNIFIL protested through its liaison mechanism. The UN peacekeepers said the Israeli army’s presence endangered peacekeepers.
About two hours later, another incident took place at the same location, UNIFIL said. Shots were fired and smoke was seen rising, causing 15 peacekeepers to suffer skin irritation and gastrointestinal problems, UN forces said.
The Israeli army also stopped a major “Unifil logistics movement” near the Lebanese border town of Mais al-Jabal on Saturday and denied its passage, the same statement said.
The Israeli military has so far not commented on the incidents.
