UNIFIL says IDF tanks in south Lebanon fired shells near peacekeepers, used laser to track them

UNIFIL reports that two Israeli tanks operating in southern Lebanon opened fired shells that impacted near UN peacekeepers.

According to a UNIFIL statement, the tanks fired three shells after “peacekeepers requested through liaison channels that they stop their activity” after moving from an IDF post “inside Lebanese territory near Sarda further into Lebanon.”

The UN force says two of the shells impacted some 150 meters from the peacekeepers, who while moving away for safety “were continuously tracked with a laser from the tanks.”

No peacekeepers were injured. UNIFIL says the tanks withdrew around 30 minutes later.

“UNIFIL had informed the IDF about the activities in those areas in advance, following usual practice for patrols in sensitive areas near the Blue Line,” the UNIFIL statement says.

It also says “attacks like these on identifiable peacekeepers… are becoming disturbingly common. Such attacks are a serious violation of Resolution 1701.”

The IDF doesn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.