UNIFIL troops gave unmanned IDF vehicle to Lebanon, army source says

UN peacekeepers took a remotely operated IDF vehicle into parts of southern Lebanon where the army does not operate and transferred the machine to the Lebanese army, a military source tells The Times of Israel.

The incident took place during IDF activity along the border on Thursday, the source says, without elaborating on how UNIFIL troops got hold of the unmanned vehicle.

During the same operation, another vehicle, which had been disabled due to a technical malfunction, was retrieved by IDF troops, the source says.

According to a report by Haaretz, the Israeli soldiers observed the second vehicle being attached to a tow truck that then proceeded into Lebanon while they were recovering the disabled vehicle.

Officers who spoke to the news outlet said commanders from the 91st Division refrained from destroying the vehicle by airstrike.

Although Haaretz reported that the vehicle was believed to be in the hands of “hostile actors,” the military source emphasizes that there is no concern over an information leak, and the incident has been investigated — though the findings have not yet been made public.

The Times of Israel has learned that discussions are currently underway through unofficial channels to retrieve the unmanned vehicle.

Lebanon’s army is under mandate to demilitarize the south of the country from any arms outside of its control.