Lebanon: Micheál Martin accuses Netanyahu over undermining UN

The UN peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon said Israeli tanks forced their way into one of its positions early on Sunday morning.

It said rounds were fired nearby that saw smoke enter the camp, causing 15 peacekeepers to suffer skin irritations and gastrointestinal reactions.

The IDF offered a different version of events, saying it had encroached on a Unifil position to evacuate soldiers who had been wounded by an anti-tank missile.

Prior to Sunday’s incidents, five peacekeepers had been injured in recent days.

No Irish troops have been injured.

Following international criticism about attacks on Unifl personnel and bases, Mr Netanyahu said in a video message yesterday evening: “We regret the harm to Unifl soldiers and we are doing our utmost to prevent such harm.”

“But the simplest and most obvious way to ensure this is simply to withdraw them from the danger zone.”

Martin accused Israel of attempting to “drive the eyes and ears out of south Lebanon and to give itself free rein” by attacking Unifl peacekeeping positions.

“We cannot have an undermining and a chipping away of the status or the credibility or structures of the United Nations and particularly its peacekeeping forces,” he said.