Israel military says its tank fire hit UN Lebanon base, expresses regret over incident

JERUSALEM: The Israeli military has acknowledged that its tank fire struck a United Nations peacekeeping base in southern Lebanon, wounding three Ghanaian troops in the incident, and expressed regret over the occurrence.

Three UN peacekeepers wounded

Three members of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) from Ghana were injured after Israeli tank shells hit the UN base. The Israeli military confirmed the incident, stating that its tank fire was responsible for the strike on the peacekeeping facility.

The Israeli military issued a statement expressing regret over the incident, though the exact circumstances surrounding how the tank fire came to hit the UN base were not immediately detailed in full.

Israel's acknowledgement

The acknowledgement by the Israeli military that its forces were behind the strike on the UN base marks a significant development. The military confirmed the tank fire struck the facility and said it regretted the incident that led to the wounding of the three Ghanaian peacekeepers.

UNIFIL has been stationed in southern Lebanon as part of its mandate to maintain peace and stability in the region. The peacekeeping mission operates along the border area between Lebanon and Israel, where tensions have frequently escalated.

Ghanaian troops among the wounded

The three wounded personnel were identified as Ghanaian troops serving with the UN peacekeeping force. The severity of their injuries was not immediately clarified in the available reports. Ghana has been a consistent contributor to UN peacekeeping missions across several conflict zones around the world.

The incident is likely to draw international attention and scrutiny, particularly regarding the safety of UN peacekeepers operating in volatile areas. Attacks or strikes on UN facilities and personnel are considered serious matters under international law.

The Israeli military's statement expressing regret over the incident came as the situation in southern Lebanon remains tense amid ongoing military operations in the region. The strike on the UN base adds another dimension to the complex security environment in the area, where multiple actors are engaged.

Further details regarding any investigation into the incident or responses from the United Nations and Ghana were awaited at the time of reporting.