Israeli tanks burst through the gates of a UN base in southern Lebanon as Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the organisation to leave immediately.
The UN said tanks forcibly entered a base of its peacekeeping force, the latest accusation of violations and attacks that have been denounced by Israel’s own allies.
It comes as Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, called on the UN to evacuate the troops of the Unifil peacekeeping force from combat areas in Lebanon.
“The time has come for you to withdraw Unifil from Hezbollah strongholds and from the combat zones,” Mr Netanyahu said in a statement addressed to Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary General.
“The IDF has requested this repeatedly and has met with repeated refusal, which has the effect of providing Hezbollah terrorists with human shields,” he said.
Five peacekeepers have so far been wounded in a series of strikes that have hit peacekeeping positions and personnel in recent days, most of the attacks blamed by Unifil on Israeli forces.
IDF explains why tank rammed through gate of UN base
An Israeli tank rammed through the gate of a United Nations base in southern Lebanon as it tried to evacuate injured soldiers, the IDF has said.
It also said no danger was posed to Unifil forces during the activity.
A Unifil spokesperson said earlier that 15 people had been injured after smoke from Israeli gunfire entered the camp.
What is the Thaad system being sent to Israel?
Each Thaad battery consists of six truck-mounted launchers, 48 interceptors, radio and radar equipment, and requires nearly 100 soldiers to operate.
It is complimentary to but can defend a wider area than the Patriot system.
It can hit targets fired at ranges of up 200 kilometres (120 miles).
Pentagon confirms missile defense system will be sent to Israel
The US will send a terminal high-altitude area defence (Thaad) battery and an associated crew of American troops to Israel, the Pentagon has confirmed.
Lloyd Austin, the secretary of state, authorised the battery’s deployment at the direction of Joe Biden.
It is being sent to Israel in order to “bolster Israel’s air defences” after Iran’s recent missile attacks, according to a Pentagon spokesman.
Iran threatens US troops in Israel
Iran has indirectly warned the US to stay out of Israel, which is still preparing its response to Tehran’s missile attack earlier this month.
The comments came in a post on X associated with Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s foreign minister.
“The US has been delivering record amount of arms to Israel,” the statement read. “It is now also putting lives of its troops at risk by deploying them to operate US missile systems in Israel.”
It added: “While we have made tremendous efforts in recent days to contain an all-out war in our region, I say it clearly that we have no red lines in defending our people and interests.”
It came as the Pentagon confirmed it would send a terminal high-altitude area defence (Thaad) battery and an associated crew of American troops to Israel.
Netanyahu ‘regrets any harm done to Unifil personnel’
Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday he had told Giorgia Meloni, the Italian prime minister, that he regrets “any harm done to Unifil personnel” in Lebanon.
“Israel will make every effort to prevent UNIFIL casualties and will do what it takes to win the war,” Mr Netanyahu said on X.
US plans to send anti-missile system to Israel
The United States plans to send an advanced anti-missile system to Israel along with US troops to operate it, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday, citing officials.
Unifil: IDF ‘violating’ international law
UN peacekeepers in Lebanon said Israeli tanks broke through a gate to enter a Blue Helmet position on the Lebanese side of the border Sunday, after blocking their movement the previous day.
Read the full Unifil statement below:
Early this morning, peacekeepers at a UN position in Ramyah observed three platoons of IDF soldiers crossing the Blue Line into Lebanon.
At around 4:30am, 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 am, peacekeepers at the same position reported the firing of several rounds 100 metres north, which emitted smoke.
Despite putting on protective masks, fifteen 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.
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 from these shocking violations.
UN peacekeepers seek explanation for ‘shocking violations’
UN peacekeepers in Lebanon on Sunday asked for explanations from the Israeli army over what they said were “shocking violations” against their force, including forcing entry into one of their positions.
“We have requested an explanation from the IDF (Israeli army) from these shocking violations,” Unifil said in a statement.
Lebanese PM condemns Israeli calls on UN to evacuate
Najib Mikati, the Lebanese prime minister, condemned the Israeli call on Unifil to abandon the south.
“The warning that Netanyahu addressed to… Guterres demanding the removal of the Unifil represents a new chapter in the enemy’s approach of not complying with international” norms, Mr Mikati said.
Earlier, Mr Netanyahu said the criticism of Israel was misplaced and should be directed at Hezbollah.
“Instead of criticising Israel, they should direct their criticism to Hezbollah, which uses Unifil as a human shield, just as Hamas in Gaza uses Unrwa as a human shield,” he said of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees.
“Unfortunately, Unrwa also cooperates with Hamas there.”
Hezbollah fleeing Israeli assault without putting up a fight
Hezbollah fighters are fleeing southern Lebanon, offering limited resistance to the Israeli ground invasion, reports Melanie Swan.
Fighters are said to have “left the area” without demonstrating “meaningful defensive operations”, according to the Institute of The Study of War, a major conflict think-tank.
Sources in Israel told The Telegraph that months of pre-invasion raids into Lebanon had helped push some of the group northwards, while the bombing campaign and pager attacks was also forcing some to flee.