JERUSALEM: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed in a statement that it has opened fire at two UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon, citing misclassification "due to poor weather conditions."
After identifying "two suspects" in the Al-Hamames area, Israeli troops fired warning shots and forced them to withdraw, but after a later review of the incident, the two were found out to be UN peacekeepers patrolling in the area, it said.
"The IDF emphasizes that no deliberate fire was directed toward UNIFIL soldiers, and the matter is being handled through official liaison channels, " it said, adding that it will continue operations to "remove any threat" to Israel.
Earlier in the day, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said Israeli troops fired from a Merkava tank positioned near an Israeli post in southern Lebanon, with heavy machine gun rounds landing about five meters from peacekeepers on foot, Xinhua news agency reported.