On October 13, the United Nations accused Israeli tanks of forcefully entering its base in southern Lebanon, causing damage to the main gate. Shortly after the Israeli forces departed, an explosion occurred just 100 meters away. In response, Israel denied the allegations, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urging the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) to withdraw quickly, suggesting they risk becoming a “human shield” for Hezbollah.
According to a Reuters report, UNIFIL stated that Israeli forces, at dawn on the 13th, deployed two Merkava main battle tanks to breach the base, damaging the entrance. At that time, Hezbollah was launching a drone assault against an Israeli military base, which resulted in at least 67 injuries and 4 fatalities.
Following the departure of the Israeli tanks, an explosion occurred nearby, cloaking the UNIFIL base in thick smoke and debris, leading to discomfort for some personnel.
The Israeli military claimed that Hezbollah fired anti-tank missiles at them, injuring 25 soldiers. They noted that the attack was dangerously close to a UNIFIL outpost, and a tank assisting in the evacuation of casualties had to retreat under fire to that position.
Israeli international spokesperson Nadav Shoshani clarified that this was not a case of charging into the base, but rather a necessary retreat due to heavy attacks and injuries sustained. He emphasized that the Israeli forces used smoke screens to shield their withdrawal, asserting that their actions posed no danger to UNIFIL personnel.
Meanwhile, Netanyahu called upon UN Secretary-General António Guterres to facilitate the withdrawal of UNIFIL, stating, “The Defense Forces have repeatedly made this request, which has been denied, effectively making them a human shield for Hezbollah.”
Later on the 13th, UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric affirmed that UNIFIL would “maintain all positions” and reiterated warnings against attacks on peacekeeping personnel. Previously, UNIFIL had reported that Israel had restricted their monitoring capabilities, targeting their observation posts, cameras, communication systems, and lighting equipment.
Hezbollah has denied using proximity to UNIFIL as a protective strategy.
