Jerusalem: Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz has described the Israeli army’s shelling of UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) positions as a “mistake.” In an interview with the Welt newspaper, Katz emphasized that it is not Israeli policy to target UNIFIL and that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Foreign Ministry are in discussions to prevent future incidents.
Katz attributed the issue to Hezbollah’s proximity to UNIFIL bases, stating, “They are doing this because they want Israel to act against UNIFIL.” He noted that military operations in southern Lebanon are likely to continue for several weeks, with Israel prioritizing its security and the safe return of its citizens over a political solution in Lebanon.
UNIFIL has reported multiple attacks on its positions by the IDF, including assaults on Italian bases and violations of the Blue Line.