Tensions in Lebanon: Israeli tanks attack UN base, 15 peacekeepers injured.

In the last few hours, the situation in southern Lebanon has become increasingly critical following an incursion by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) into a UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) base. Two IDF Merkava tanks destroyed the main entrance to the Ramyah post, severely damaging the base, which houses the Ghanaian contingent of the peacekeeping mission.. During the operation, 15 peacekeepers were injured, suffering from symptoms due to exposure to toxic smoke and skin irritation. The IDF requested that the lights inside the base be turned off, a request that was denied by Unifil personnel. The Israeli vehicles withdrew after approximately 45 minutes of stay.

The incident comes amid rising tensions between Israel and Hezbollah militias, with mutual accusations of territorial violations and exploitation of UN positions. The IDF claims that Hezbollah uses UNIFIL bases as “human shields” to hide its military activities, making it increasingly difficult to distinguish between civilians and combatants on the ground. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called for the immediate withdrawal of the UN mission from Lebanon, denouncing that the presence of peacekeepers favors the operations of Hezbollah militants.

Israeli violations against UN posts are not limited to Ramyah.

In the past 24 hours, Israeli strikes have been reported against 200 Hezbollah targets, destroying rocket launchers, weapons caches and anti-tank emplacements. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, in a conversation with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, reiterated that Hezbollah is intentionally firing from the vicinity of UNIFIL bases, complicating Israeli military operations.

The episode sparked a harsh international reaction.

Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto condemned the incident as “an unacceptable act” against a peacekeeping force committed to maintaining stability. Crosetto called on the Italian Chief of Defense Staff, General Luciano Portolano, to initiate a dialogue with Israeli counterparts to avoid further hostile actions.The incident constitutes an unacceptable act against the United Nations Peacekeeping Force, whose mandate is exclusively aimed at maintaining stability and security in the area. Following this serious violation” – continues the Minister of Defense – “I asked the Italian Chief of Defense, General Luciano Portolano, to contact his counterpart. General Portolano promptly spoke with the Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces, General Herzi Halevi, reiterating the need to avoid further hostile actions. My counterpart, Gallant, assured me the same thing.”

Meanwhile, the UN has reiterated its call on all parties to the conflict to respect the inviolability of their positions and to ensure the safety of UNIFIL personnel., stressing that any attack against peacekeepers constitutes a serious violation of international law. Security Council Resolution 1701 of 2006, which calls for the maintenance of peace between Israel and Lebanon, has been invoked as the legal basis for ensuring the freedom of movement of UN troops in the area.

The situation remains extremely tense, and violations of UN posts threaten to further escalate the conflict.