UNIFIL condemns Israel for dropping chemical substances over Lebanon

UNIFIL called Monday on Israel to stop violating resolution 1701 after the Israeli army dropped Sunday unknown chemical substances from airplanes over Lebanon.

On Sunday morning, the Israeli army informed 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 Israeli army told the peacekeepers to stay away and remain under cover, forcing them to cancel over a dozen activities.

"Peacekeepers could not perform normal operations near the Blue Line along about a third of its length and were only able to resume normal activities after over nine hours," UNIFIL said in a statement, adding that it supported the Lebanese Army in collecting samples to be tested for toxicity.

"This activity was unacceptable and contrary to resolution 1701. 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. It also raised 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," UNIFIL said.

"This is not the first time that the IDF has dropped unknown chemical substances from airplanes over Lebanon. We continue to remind the IDF that flights by their aircraft into Lebanon are violations of resolution 1701, and any activity that puts peacekeepers and civilians at risk are of serious concern. We again call on the IDF to stop all such activities and work with peacekeepers to support the stability we are all working to achieve."