IDF says UNIFIL incident occurred as wounded troops were evacuated under fire

After UNIFIL said IDF forces entered one of its posts in southern Lebanon and fired smoke shells that caused illness among peacekeepers, Israel admits that those incidents took place, but says they occurred during attempts to evacuate wounded IDF soldiers under fire.

Troops came under “massive anti-tank fire” earlier today, says the IDF. Two soldiers were seriously hurt, and several more were lightly or moderately injured.

From an initial investigation, says the IDF, “it appears that during the incident, and for the evacuation, two tanks reversed in a spot where they couldn’t have gone elsewhere because of the threat of fire, several meters into a UNIFIL position.”

“After firing ended and the evacuation of the wounded was completed, the tanks left the position.”

UNIFIL says the tanks were there for 45 minutes.

The IDF adds that smoke screens were laid down to assist the evacuation. “The IDF maintained continuous contact with UNIFIL. Throughout the entire incident, there was no danger to UNIFIL forces from IDF operations.”