Israeli Tank Attacks UN Peacekeepers Watchtower in Southern Lebanon

Adding to the ongoing tensions with the international community during the ongoing invasion of southern Lebanon, an Israeli Merkava tank was reported today to have attacked an observation tower belonging to UNIFIL peacekeepers near the town of Kfar Kela.

There were no casualties reported in this particular Israeli attack on the peacekeepers, but the UNIFIL did report that two cameras on the site were destroyed by the tank fire and that the watchtower itself sustained damage.

The official UNIFIL statement condemned the attack, warning that personnel and property of the peacekeeping forces need to be treated as inviolable at all times.

On Sunday, Israeli tanks smashed into the peacekeeper base near Ramia. It was not clear why they did so, but it came amid Prime Minister Netanyahu’s demand that the UN withdraw all troops from Lebanon. Israel also fired smoke munitions near that base, and over a dozen peacekeepers were sickened by exposure to it.

Today’s attack similarly comes with no obvious explanation, but did come shortly after comments from UNIFIL spokesman Andrea Tenenti reiterating that the peacekeepers would not evacuate because of Israeli demands, adding that the troops are there at the request of the UN Security Council, not the Israelis.

Israel is facing growing international criticism from the attacks on UN personnel, though Netanyahu has been defiant on calls to respect the will of the international community, insisting it is a disgrace to criticize Israel’s wars, and vowing Israel will win those wars “with or without” the rest of the world’s support.