Israel Forces Tanks into UN Troop Base in Lebanon... Netanyahu Demands "Withdraw"

On the 13th (local time), an incident occurred where Israeli military tanks forcibly entered by breaking down the main gate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) stationed in southern Lebanon. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanded the withdrawal of UNIFIL stationed in Lebanon, and United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Ant?nio Guterres strongly condemned the attacks on UNIFIL, stating that all attacks could constitute 'war crimes.'

UNIFIL issued a statement that morning saying, "Two Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) Merkava tanks destroyed the main gate of the base in the Ramiya area and forcibly entered," and "We have requested an explanation from the Israeli military regarding this shocking violation (of UN Security Council resolutions and international law)." There were no injuries within UNIFIL due to this forced entry. However, UNIFIL criticized that the Israeli military's entry into the UN base compromised its neutral status.

After the forced entry, the Israeli tanks repeatedly demanded the base to turn off its lights, and when UNIFIL protested, they left after 45 minutes. Subsequently, several gunshots were confirmed about 100 meters from the base, causing smoke, and 15 UNIFIL personnel received treatment for skin irritation and gastrointestinal issues. UNIFIL also added that the day before, Israeli troops blocked soldiers moving logistics in a separate area. As the Israeli military has recently intensified its offensive against the Lebanese Shiite armed group Hezbollah, it is understood that at least five UNIFIL personnel have been injured.

On the same afternoon, the Israeli military stated that the Merkava tank accidentally reversed into the UNIFIL base while evacuating 25 injured soldiers. A military spokesperson emphasized that this incident was not an "assault."

Recently, there have been increasing public calls in Israel for the withdrawal of the approximately 10,000-strong UNIFIL stationed in Lebanon. In a video statement that day, Prime Minister Netanyahu said, "It is time for them (UNIFIL) to withdraw from Hezbollah strongholds and combat zones," adding, "We have repeatedly requested this but have been repeatedly refused. This provides Hezbollah terrorists with a 'human shield.'" He mentioned UNIFIL personnel injured in the early stages of the ground war, saying, "We regret the harm caused to UNIFIL personnel and are doing our best to prevent such harm," but also stated, "The simplest and most certain way to guarantee this is to withdraw them from the danger zone."

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

UNIFIL maintains that there will be no withdrawal. UN spokesperson St?phane Dujarric said, "All UNIFIL personnel remain in their positions, and the UN flag continues to fly," adding, "Secretary-General Guterres has repeatedly emphasized that UNIFIL personnel and bases must never be targeted. Attacks on UNIFIL violate international law and may constitute war crimes." The New York Times (NYT) reported that "the UN forces rejected the Israeli military's demand to withdraw from southern Lebanon, noting that the UN Security Council mandates their deployment," and that Secretary-General Guterres, who Netanyahu demanded withdrawal from, does not have authority over UNIFIL.

UNIFIL has been stationed along the so-called 'Blue Line' established by the UN immediately after the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah. As repeated attacks targeting UNIFIL have been confirmed recently, 40 countries that have dispatched troops to UNIFIL issued a joint statement the day before, saying, "Considering the escalating tensions in the region, UNIFIL's role is especially important," and "We strongly condemn the recent series of attacks on UNIFIL and call for appropriate investigations." Giorgia Meloni, Prime Minister of Italy, a major troop-contributing country to UNIFIL, emphasized in a phone call to Prime Minister Netanyahu that attacks on UNIFIL are unacceptable.

This incident occurred as the Israeli military expanded its frontlines while continuing wars against Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Palestinian armed group Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli military also urged residents of more than 20 villages in southern Lebanon to evacuate north of the Awali River that day. According to Lebanese health authorities, since Hezbollah began rocket attacks on northern Israel in cooperation with Hamas on October 8 last year, a total of 2,255 people have died in Lebanon. More than half of these deaths are understood to have occurred since the full-scale escalation of clashes on the 23rd of last month. During the same period, Gaza health authorities reported that over 42,000 Palestinians have died in the Gaza Strip.

That day, the Israeli military attacked about 200 targets located in southern Lebanon. Lebanon is also continuing its offensive against Israel. Near Binyamina in northern Israel's Haifa region, 67 people were injured by a Hezbollah drone attack. Hezbollah stated in a press release, "We attacked the Golani Brigade unit in the village of Binyamina in northern Israel with drones," calling it "retaliation for the Israeli airstrike on Beirut on the 10th, which killed 22 people." Additionally, Hezbollah released an audio recording of its late leader Hassan Nasrallah that day. In the recording, Nasrallah said, "We hope you protect your people, family, country, values, and dignity, and protect this sacred and blessed land and its people."

Concerns about escalation continue as Israel declared a counter-retaliation against Iran's retaliatory attacks earlier this month. The U.S. Department of Defense announced that it would deploy additional Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile batteries and related U.S. troops to Israel in preparation for further Iranian attacks. Pentagon spokesperson Pat Ryder explained in a statement, "This measure underscores the United States' ironclad commitment to defend Israel from additional ballistic missile attacks by Iran and to protect Americans in Israel." On the same day, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned on X (formerly Twitter), "The U.S. has delivered a record amount of weapons to Israel and is endangering the lives of its troops by deploying forces to operate the U.S. missile defense system in Israel," adding, "There is no 'red line' in defending the Iranian people and national interests."