According to a classified report describing several recent incidents in which IDF forces attacked UN peacekeepers in Lebanon , the Israeli military forced its way into a UNIFIL base and then, after leaving, "is suspected to have used white phosphorus , an incendiary chemical, close enough to injure 15 peacekeepers ."
The Financial Times wrote this, specifying that it had seen the report, "prepared by a country that supplies troops" to UNIFIL.
The British newspaper writes that the report speaks of a dozen episodes and describes some of them. In particular, one that dates back to October 13 , when, according to Unifil, two Israeli tanks broke through the main gate of a base, then withdrew 45 minutes later following protests by the blue helmets. However, about an hour later, several shots were fired about 100 meters from the base, which emitted "suspected white phosphorus smoke" that spread throughout the base, according to the report, injuring 15 peacekeepers .
The IDF said a tank under attack was trying to evacuate wounded soldiers and so a smoke screen was created to provide cover. UNIFIL said that day that "despite wearing protective masks, 15 peacekeepers suffered effects, including skin irritation and gastrointestinal reactions , after the smoke entered the camp."
White phosphorus munitions are not banned under the Chemical Weapons Convention, and their use – usually to create smoke screens, mark targets or burn buildings – by the Israeli military has been documented as early as 2006 against military targets in Lebanon.
(Unioneonline/vl)
