"A United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) statement said Israeli forces "fired on UNIFIL peacekeepers from a Merkava tank from near a position Israel has established in Lebanese territory." The statement added that heavy machine gun rounds had landed some five meters (16 feet) from peacekeepers. No one was injured in the incident."
"Israel said it had identified "two suspects" in the El Hamames area of southern Lebanon and that, "Troops subsequently fired warning shots, and the suspects distanced themselves. No injuries were reported." "After a review, it was determined that the suspects were UN soldiers who were conducting a patrol in the area and were classified as suspects due to poor weather conditions," the statement continued. "No deliberate fire was directed toward UNIFIL soldiers.""
"UNIFIL officials called the incident "a serious violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701," which states that no armed forces should be operating in southern Lebanon except UN peacekeepers and the Lebanese military. UN peacekeepers have been working in coordination with the Lebanese army in an effort to monitor a truce between Israeli forces and Iran-backed Hezbollah militants signed last November."
Israeli forces fired on UNIFIL peacekeepers in southern Lebanon after mistaking blue-helmeted soldiers for suspects during poor weather. UNIFIL reported fire from a Merkava tank and heavy machine gun rounds landing about five meters from peacekeepers; no injuries occurred. Israel said troops fired warning shots after identifying two suspects, who later were found to be UN soldiers following a review. UNIFIL units were reportedly pinned down for 30 minutes before departing. UNIFIL described the incident as a serious violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which prohibits armed forces in southern Lebanon other than UN peacekeepers and the Lebanese military.
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