Israel uses white phosphorus bombs against UN troops in Lebanon, 15 UNIFIL soldiers injured

BEIRUT – The Israeli military is suspected of entering a UN peacekeeping force base in Lebanon by force and using white phosphorus bombs close enough to injure 15 peacekeepers.

The report was published by the Financial Times on Tuesday (22/10/2024), citing a secret report from the country that provides peacekeepers to Lebanon.

The report describes a dozen Israeli attacks launched against UN forces in Lebanon, including damaging several facilities and wounding soldiers at border posts in southern Lebanon.

The reported incident took place on October 13, when the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said two Israeli Merkava tanks broke through the gate of one of their bases. The tanks left after 45 minutes, after a complaint from UNIFIL.

The Financial Times did not specify in its report where the incident took place, but on the same day, it was reported that two tanks hit a Unifil base post in Ramya, a town in southern Lebanon.

UNIFIL said its peacekeepers were being treated for skin irritation and gastrointestinal reactions.

Within an hour of the tanks’ departure, several shells were fired 100 meters north of the UNIFIL base, emitting “smoke believed to be white phosphorus” injuring about last 15 peacekeepers.

The Israeli military said one of its tanks rolled “a few meters” into the UNIFIL gate, saying it was just trying to evacuate wounded soldiers.

The Israeli military said it set off a smoke screen to provide protection.

Shortly after Israel invaded Lebanon on October 1, video footage began circulating online that appeared to show Israel’s use of white phosphorus weapons.