UNIFIL claims IDF dropped ‘unknown chemical substance’ over Blue Line, delaying their activities

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon says the Israeli military dropped an “unknown chemical substance” over areas near the Blue Line yesterday, delaying the observers’ activities for nine hours.

UNIFIL says it was told by the IDF that it would be “carrying out an aerial activity dropping what they said was a non-toxic chemical substance over areas near the Blue Line.”

“The IDF said that peacekeepers should stay away and remain under cover, forcing them to cancel over a dozen activities,” the observer force says.

“Peacekeepers could not perform normal operations near the Blue Line along about a third of its length and were only able to resume normal activities after over nine hours,” UNFIL says, adding that its observers also supported the Lebanese army in “collecting samples to be tested for toxicity.”

“This activity was unacceptable and contrary to resolution 1701. The IDF’s deliberate and planned actions not only limited peacekeepers’ ability to undertake their mandated activities, but also potentially put their health and that of civilians at risk. It also raised concerns about the effects of this unknown chemical on local agricultural lands, and how this might impact the return of civilians to their homes and livelihoods in the long-term,” UNIFIL says.

There is no immediate comment from the IDF on the incident.

In recent months, UNIFIL has made an increasing number of complaints against the IDF.