El Pais: Israeli tanks fire near Spanish UN peacekeepers in Lebanon

On January 12, Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) tanks fired towards a patrol of Spanish UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon, though no casualties were reported, according to Spain’s Defence Staff.

The incident occurred around 16:30 local time, when three Israeli tanks positioned themselves north of the so-called buffer zone within the area monitored by the Spanish battalion (Spanbatt) of UNIFIL’s Eastern Brigade, commanded by Major General Antonio Bernal Martín, El Pais reports.

The buffer zone is a security perimeter surrounding five strategic positions maintained by the IDF in Lebanese territory following their last incursion in October 2024. A Spanish patrol moved south of the village of El Khiam to monitor the tanks after they reportedly left the buffer zone.

At that moment, the Israeli tanks fired three rounds from their main guns, calibre 105 or 120 mm. The shells landed 150 and 380 metres from the Spanish patrol, which withdrew to a secure location.

The tanks later returned to their positions in Lebanese territory, and the Spanish soldiers returned to Miguel de Cervantes' base in Marjayún without further incident.

This is not the first time Spanish UN peacekeepers have been involved in such confrontations. The IDF has repeatedly harassed UN personnel, who monitor Israeli operations in southern Lebanon.

Backed by the United States, Israel has successfully pushed the UN Security Council to end UNIFIL’s mandate at the end of this year, initiating a gradual withdrawal despite the Lebanese Armed Forces still not being fully prepared to assume control of the south or manage the border in place of the Hezbollah militia.

Spain’s Defence Staff emphasised that UNIFIL forces, which include over 600 Spanish troops, contribute to peace and stability in southern Lebanon in coordination with both Lebanese and Israeli forces. It condemned any hostile actions against UN personnel as a serious violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which could jeopardise their safety.

By Aghakazim Guliyev