Beirut, Lebanon. Israel’s military said on Wednesday that its tank fire mistakenly hit a United Nations position in southern Lebanon on March 6, wounding Ghanaian peacekeepers. The incident comes as Israeli operations expand and risks rise along the border area.
Israel acknowledges responsibility and issues apology
In a statement to Reuters, Israel’s military said its troops were behind the incident but had responded to anti-tank missile fire from Hezbollah that moderately wounded two Israeli soldiers. The military said a comprehensive investigation found the fire that hit UNIFIL personnel was carried out by troops who misidentified UNIFIL troops as the source of the anti-tank fire moments earlier.
It said the IDF regretted the incident and conveyed its apologies through appropriate channels to Ghana and the United Nations, adding that the investigation’s findings were disseminated within the military to prevent recurrence.
UNIFIL role and heightened risks
The U.N. peacekeeping mission UNIFIL is stationed in southern Lebanon to monitor hostilities along the demarcation line with Israel, an area that has been at the heart of clashes between Israeli troops and Iran-backed Hezbollah fighters. The mission is due to be halted at the end of 2026.
UNIFIL has been sporadically caught in the crosshairs of both Israel and Hezbollah over the last couple of years, and with Israel considering a broader ground operation, risks could increase in the coming weeks.
U.N. inquiry and reported munitions details
A Western military source told Reuters on Tuesday that initial findings by an internal U.N. inquiry suggested Israel was behind the attack.
According to the Western source, preliminary conclusions led by UNIFIL’s Force Commander Reserve, with support from explosive ordnance disposal specialists, indicated three strikes at the al-Qawzah base were direct hits from the main gun of an Israeli battle tank. The source said the strikes were fired using 120-mm M339 HE-MP-T shells.
Regional context
Lebanon was pulled into the war in the Middle East when Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel, igniting a new Israeli offensive against the group.
What impact do you think this incident could have on UNIFIL’s operations in southern Lebanon?
