Israel admits tank fire hit UN position in southern Lebanon

Israel’s military acknowledged on March 18 that its tank fire struck a United Nations position in southern Lebanon earlier this month, wounding Ghanaian peacekeepers.

In a statement to Reuters, Israel’s military confirmed its troops were responsible but said the strike followed anti-tank missile fire from Hezbollah that moderately wounded two Israeli soldiers.

The incident occurred on March 6 at a base used by the U.N. peacekeeping mission known as United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which monitors hostilities along the demarcation line between Israel and Lebanon. The area has been at the centre of escalating clashes between Israeli forces and Iran-backed Hezbollah fighters.

"A ⁠comprehensive investigation concluded in recent days determined that the fire that hit the UNIFIL personnel was mistakenly carried out by the IDF troops that misidentified the UNIFIL troops as the source of the anti-tank fire moments earlier," the statement said. "The IDF regrets the incident and has conveyed its apologies through the appropriate channels to Ghana and the United Nations. The findings of the investigations have been disseminated within the IDF to prevent recurrence of similar incidents."

Initial findings from an internal U.N. inquiry had suggested Israel was behind the attack, a Western military source told Reuters on March 17. According to the source, preliminary conclusions led by UNIFIL’s Force Commander Reserve, supported by explosive ordnance disposal specialists, indicated that three strikes on the al-Qawzah base were direct hits from the main gun of an Israeli battle tank.

They were fired using 120-mm M339 HE-MP-T shells, the source said.

"Israeli involvement in the attack against UNIFIL is undeniable, given that these munitions are manufactured by Israel Military Industries (IMI)," the source said.

UNIFIL had said on March 6 that Ghanaian peacekeepers were wounded amid heavy firing and described the incident as “unacceptable,” without attributing responsibility at the time. The findings of the mission’s probe have not previously been reported.

"That investigation is not yet complete. Once it is finalized, it will be shared with the parties, per usual practice," said UNIFIL spokesperson Kandice Ardiel. "Nonetheless, we reiterate the obligation of all actors to ensure the safety and security of peacekeepers and avoid harm to civilians. Any deliberate attack on peacekeepers is a grave violation of international humanitarian law and a violation of resolution 1701."

Earlier, the Ghana Armed Forces said two of its soldiers serving in UNIFIL were “critically injured” after their position came under missile fire.

On March 14, UNIFIL said another group of peacekeepers had likely been fired upon on three separate occasions in southern Lebanon, “likely by non-state armed groups,” though no injuries were reported.

By Sabina Mammadli