Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denied that the Israeli army intentionally attacked United Nations peacekeeping forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL), calling the accusations false.
“On the contrary. Israel has repeatedly asked UNIFIL to get out of our way. We have repeatedly requested that they temporarily leave the combat zone, which is located right along the border of Israel with Lebanon,” Netanyahu said, according to the Times of Israel.
The UNIFIL mission and European countries, which have about 10,000 troops in Lebanon, stated that the Israeli army had attacked forward positions several times, lightly wounding five soldiers, reported N1.
“When we began the ground operation at the border with Lebanon, we asked them: Please leave this area so you won’t be harmed,” Netanyahu said.
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He accused Hezbollah of using UNIFIL positions to launch attacks against Israel.
“Those attacks, including yesterday’s, have claimed the lives of many Israelis,” Netanyahu said, referring to a drone strike that killed four Israeli soldiers and injured dozens.
The best way to ensure the safety of UNIFIL personnel is to heed our request and temporarily get out of the way, the Israeli prime minister stated.
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Source: Nedeljnik
Photo: EPA-EFE/Maya Alleruzzo / POOL