Daijiworld Media Network - Jerusalem

Jerusalem, Nov 17: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has acknowledged that its troops unintentionally opened fire on two UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon after misidentifying them during poor weather conditions.

According to the IDF, soldiers spotted what they believed were “two suspects” in the Al-Hamames area and fired warning shots, prompting the individuals to withdraw. A subsequent review revealed they were UNIFIL personnel conducting routine patrols.

The IDF stressed that the shots were not deliberately aimed at UN peacekeepers and that the incident is being addressed through official liaison channels, while reaffirming its commitment to neutralising perceived threats to Israel.

UNIFIL reported that Israeli forces fired from a Merkava tank near an Israeli position, with heavy machine gun rounds landing just five meters from peacekeepers on foot. The peacekeepers took cover and contacted the Israeli side to stop the firing, later withdrawing safely once the tank pulled back. No injuries were reported.

The UN mission described the event as a “serious violation” of Security Council Resolution 1701 and urged Israel to halt aggressive actions near peacekeeping personnel, stressing that UN forces are focused on maintaining stability along the border. UNIFIL sites have come under fire several times since cross-border tensions flared following the Gaza conflict in October 2023, with Israel continuing intermittent strikes in Lebanon and maintaining positions along the border despite a February 18 withdrawal deadline.