UN peacekeepers in Lebanon were killed by Israeli tank fire and Hezbollah bomb, probe finds

THREE UN PEACEKEEPERS who died in Lebanon last month were likely killed by Israeli tank fire in one incident and by a Hezbollah improvised explosive device in another, according to a United Nations investigation.

On 29 March, an Indonesian peacekeeper was killed and three others wounded by a projectile that exploded near the Lebanese village of Adchit Al Qusayr, south of the Litani river, located around 25 kilometres north of ‘Camp Shamrock’, the UNIFIL site which hosts Irish peacekeepers.

The next day, two other soldiers from the same force were killed by an explosion that destroyed their vehicle. A third was seriously wounded and a fourth more lightly.

“We have requested with the relevant parties that the cases be investigated and prosecuted by national authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice and ensure criminal accountability for crimes against peacekeepers,” Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN secretary-general, told reporters.

In the first case, the investigation indicates “the projectile was a 120 mm tank main armament round, fired by an Israel Defense Forces Merkava tank from the east,” Dujarric said.

He added that UNIFIL had communicated the location of all its positions and installations to the Israeli military twice in the days before the incident.

The 30 March explosion was caused by an IED, Dujarric said.

“The investigation has assessed that, given the location of the incident, the nature of the explosion, and the current context, the IED was most likely placed by Hezbollah,” he said.

Advertisement

Peacekeeper detained 

Meanwhile, Israeli invasion forces detained a Unifil peacekeeper today before releasing the soldier following demands from the UN. 

“Earlier this evening, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) detained a UNIFIL peacekeeper after blocking a logistics convoy,” Unifil said in a statement.

“Following direct and immediate contacts by UNIFIL’s Head of Mission & Force Commander and our Liaison Branch, the peacekeeper was released in less than an hour.

“Any detention of a United Nations peacekeeper is a blatant violation of international law. Any interference with the work of peacekeepers is also a violation of resolution 1701,” Unifil said, referring to the Security Council resolution aimed at neding hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah.

Unifil has served as a peacekeeping force between Israel and Lebanon since 1978, but now finds itself caught in the crossfire between the invading Israeli army and Iran-backed Hezbollah.

At least 1,461 people have been killed in Israeli strikes in Lebanon since March, according to Lebanese health authorities. More than one million people have been displaced from their homes, according to the International Organization for Migration. 

The latest conflict between Israel and Hezbollah began when the Lebanese group launched attacks in retaliation for the killing of Iran’s supreme leader on the first day of the US-Israeli war on Iran. 

Israel has responded with broad strikes across Lebanon, demanding the Lebanese population leave the south of the country and launching a ground invasion.

With reporting from AFP

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.
Learn More Support The Journal