US pressures Israel to seek diplomatic solution after IDF fires on UNIFIL position again
US Defense Secretary Austin tells DM Gallant that Israel ‘needs to pivot to a diplomatic pathway’
After reports of IDF soldiers firing on a position of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) for a second time in recent days, the United States urged Israel once again to seek a diplomatic solution to the conflict in Lebanon.
In a press briefing at the White House on Friday, U.S. President Joe Biden was asked, “Are you asking Israel to stop hitting UN peacekeepers?”
Biden responded, “Absolutely, positively.”
The question posed to Biden came one day before a phone call between U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
According to an official readout of the call, as provided by the Pentagon, Austin “expressed his deep concern about reports that Israeli forces fired on UN peacekeeping positions in Lebanon as well as by the reported death of two Lebanese soldiers.”
On Friday, France, which has around 700 troops committed to UNIFIL forces in southern Lebanon, summoned the Israeli ambassador, asking for an explanation.
“These attacks constitute serious violations of international law and must stop immediately,” the French ministry said in a statement.
The summons came after two UNIFIL peacekeepers from Sri Lanka were injured following two explosions near a watchtower at a UNIFIL base.
The IDF acknowledged that a UNIFIL post was struck during their response to Hezbollah fire, which they stated originated from approximately 50 meters (165 feet) away from the UNIFIL tower.
“An initial examination indicates that during the incident, a hit was identified on a UNIFIL post, located approximately 50 meters from the source of the threat, resulting in the injury of two UNIFIL personnel,” the IDF stated.
The Israeli military also said it had “instructed UNIFIL personnel to enter into protected spaces and remain there. This instruction was in place at the time of the incident.”
In his call with Gallant, Austin requested that the IDF ensure the safety of UNIFIL forces in the area. Austin also expressed “the need to pivot from military operations in Lebanon to a diplomatic pathway as soon as feasible.”
Israel previously asked UNIFIL to move 3 to 5 kilometers (1.5 - 3 miles) north of the Israel-Lebanon border as Israeli forces began their ground incursion into southern Lebanon.
The request was meant to prevent UNIFIL fighters from being harmed if Hezbollah chose to launch attacks from near its positions. However, the UN under-secretary-general for Peacekeeping Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, said UNIFIL troops would remain in place.
“The peacekeepers are currently staying in their position, all of them,” Lacroix told reporters on Oct, 4. “The parties have an obligation to respect the safety of and security of peacekeepers, and I want to insist on that.”
Israel Defense Forces responded in a statement: “The IDF is in contact with UNIFIL for coordination purposes and will continue to do so. The IDF is continuing to examine the circumstances of the incident.”
“The Hezbollah terrorist organization deliberately operates with the intent to harm Israeli civilians from civilian areas and near UNIFIL posts, thereby endangering UNIFIL personnel.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a statement Sunday afternoon calling on U.N. Secretary General António Guterres to withdraw the UNIFIL soldiers from "the danger zone."
"I would like to appeal directly to the UN Secretary General: The time has come for you to withdraw UNIFIL from Hezbollah strongholds and from the combat zones," Netanyahu said.
Saying the IDF has repeatedly requested and been met with refusal by the UN to withdraw its peacekeeping forces, Netanyahu told Guterres, "Mr. Secretary General, get the UNIFIL forces out of harm's way. It should be done right now, immediately."
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The All Israel News Staff is a team of journalists in Israel.
