After a long list of incidents against the facilities and personnel, UN Secretary General António Guterres raised his warnings on Sunday about the hostile environment that threatens UNIFIL after armoured vehicles of the Israeli forces entered its space without authorization.

Guterres described the violation, which contravenes international law and the mandate of the mission, as extremely worrying.

“Attacks against peacekeepers violate international law, including international humanitarian law, and may constitute a war crime,” he said in a statement calling for all actions that endanger peacekeepers.

UNIFIL itself detailed in a separate press release that two Israeli tanks “destroyed the main gate of the position and forcibly entered it”.

Shortly after the vehicles left, shells exploded 100 metres away, apreading smoke throughout the base and affecting UN personnel. At least 15 of them needed treatment despite wearing gas masks, UNIFIL said.

Sunday’s complaint is the latest in a long list of attacks against UNIFIL in recent days as Tel Aviv expands its offensive.

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