"Unacceptable": UN peacekeeping force condemns Israeli chemical drop in Lebanon
The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which includes around 360 Irish troops, has condemned the dropping of a chemical substance by Israel's Defence Forces over areas near the Blue Line in Southern Lebanon yesterday (Sunday).
The incident has also been criticised by the Irish Defence Forces, which said the chemical drop "did not take place in the Irish area of operations".
The UNIFIL statement said that the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) had notified it that it would be dropping a chemical substance by air, and that this substance was non-toxic.
However, Israel also told UNIFIL that "peacekeepers should stay away and remain under cover" while the chemical drop was taking place, which resulted in the cancellation of more than a dozen planned activities.
"Peacekeepers could not perform normal operations near the Blue Line, along about a third of its length, and were only able to resume normal activities after over nine hours. They supported the Lebanese Armed Forces in collecting samples to be tested for toxicity," stated UNIFIL today (Monday).
"This activity was unacceptable and contrary to resolution 1701. The IDF’s deliberate and planned actions not only limited peacekeepers’ ability to undertake their mandated activities, but also potentially put their health and that of civilians at risk.
"It also raised concerns about the effects of this unknown chemical on local agricultural lands, and how this might impact the return of civilians to their homes and livelihoods in the long-term.
"This is not the first time that the IDF has dropped unknown chemical substances from airplanes over Lebanon," added UNIFIL.
"We continue to remind the IDF that flights by their aircraft into Lebanon are violations of resolution 1701, and any activity that puts peacekeepers and civilians at risk are of serious concern.
"We again call on the IDF to stop all such activities and work with peacekeepers to support the stability we are all working to achieve."
A spokesperson for the Irish Defence Forces told The Irish Times it joined UNIFIL in "condemning any violation of airspace or conducting of activities which prevent UNIFIL personnel from carrying out their duties".
The Defence Forces here added: “There was no effect on Irish personnel, and the 127th Infantry Battalion continued to conduct all framework operations in support of the UNIFIL mandate."