UNIFIL: We monitored 3 platoons of Israeli soldiers crossing the Blue Line into Lebanon this Sunday morning

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) announced that it monitored 3 platoons of Israeli soldiers crossing the Blue Line into Lebanon early Sunday morning. UNIFIL issued a statement saying: "Early this morning, peacekeeping soldiers at a UN site in Ramieh monitored three platoons of Israeli soldiers crossing the Blue Line into Lebanon." The statement added that in the morning, while the peacekeepers were in shelters, two IDF Merkava tanks destroyed the main gate of the site and forcibly entered it. They requested several times to turn off the base lights, and the tanks left after about 45 minutes, after UNIFIL protested through our liaison mechanism, considering that the presence of the IDF was endangering the peacekeepers. UNIFIL continued in its statement: "At approximately 6:40 a.m., peacekeepers in the same location reported several bursts of gunfire 100 meters to the north, which resulted in heavy smoke. Despite wearing protective masks, 15 peacekeepers suffered from the effects, includi ng skin irritation and stomach problems after the smoke entered the base. The peacekeepers are receiving the necessary treatment." He continued: "In addition, yesterday (Saturday), IDF soldiers stopped a very important logistical movement for UNIFIL near Meiss al-Jabal, preventing it from passing. "This important movement could not be completed," she said in her statement. "For the fourth time in two days, we remind the Israeli military and all actors of their obligations to ensure the safety and security of UN personnel and property and to respect the sanctity of UN premises at all times," it said, stressing that "the breach and entry into a UN site constitutes another flagrant violation of resolution 1701 (2006), and that any deliberate attack on peacekeepers constitutes a serious violation of international humanitarian law and Security Council resolution 1701." It stressed that "UNIFIL's mandate provides for freedom of movement in its area of operations, and that any restriction of this constitutes a vi olation of resolution 1701," adding: "We have asked the Israeli military for an explanation of these horrific violations. Source: National Iraqi News Agency