‘Stay away’: Israel drop mystery chemicals in Lebanon and refuse to explain why

Israel has sprayed chemicals into Lebanon, according to UN forces in the region. United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon (UNIFIL) said in a press release:

the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) told UNIFIL that they would be carrying out an aerial activity dropping what they said was a non-toxic chemical substance over areas near the Blue Line.

The ‘blue line’ is a 120km strip which marks the line of withdrawal after Israeli military withdrawal in 2000. UN troops monitor the zone.

Israel attacks Lebanon AGAIN

Despite the claims the chemical were non-toxic, UNIFIL were told:

peacekeepers should stay away and remain under cover, forcing them to cancel over a dozen activities.

UNIFIL complained their peacekeepers could not “perform normal operations” near the Blue Line for over nine hours. Later, UN troops helped the Lebanese military collect “samples to be tested for toxicity”.

UNIFIL called the move “unacceptable”  in their press release:

The IDF’s deliberate and planned actions not only limited peacekeepers’ ability to undertake their mandated activities, but also potentially put their health and that of civilians at risk.

Israel did not disclose what the chemical was or why it as being deployed. UNIFIL said it had

concerns about the effects of this unknown chemical on local agricultural lands, and how this might impact the return of civilians to their homes and livelihoods in the long-term.

Southern Lebanon has remained under Israel attack despite a ceasefire with Israel. Israel killed eight journalists in 22 January, as well as wounding nineteen civilians.

UNIFIL called on the Israeli forces:

to stop all such activities and work with peacekeepers to support the stability we are all working to achieve.

The Republic of Ireland currently has 350 troops deployed as part of the peacekeeping presence. Irish troops were not affected but the country’s defence forces condemned:

any violation of airspace or conducting of activities which prevent UNIFIL personnel from carrying out their duties.

The IDF has not commented, but the unexplained use of unknown chemicals in a febrile area is a cause for major concern for UN troops and locals alike.

Featured image via the Canary