U.N. peacekeeping troops claimed Israel Defense Forces tanks destroyed the main gate of their base in Ramyah in southern Lebanon on Sunday, breached the facility and stayed for 45 minutes.
The two IDF Merkava tanks left the base after the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) protested the action through a "liaison mechanism," according to U.N. officials.
Two hours later, U.N. peacekeepers at the Ramyah position reported hearing "several rounds" fired nearby. Smoke from the rounds, according to UNIFIL, engulfed the base, causing 15 peacekeepers to be treated for "skin irritation and gastrointestinal reactions" and other effects.
IDF soldiers, according to UNIFIL, also stopped a "critical UNIFIL logistical movement" near Meiss ej Jabel on Saturday, denying it passage. The critical movement could not be completed, UNIFIL said in a statement.
The statement called on the IDF to respect the safety of U.N. personnel, saying, that UNIFIL has requested "an explanation from the IDF from these shocking violations."
There was no immediate response from the IDF.
"Breaching and entering a U.N. position is a further flagrant violation of international law and Security Council resolution 1701 (2006)," UNIFIL said in its statement. "Any deliberate attack on peacekeepers is a grave violation of international humanitarian law and resolution 1701. UNIFIL’s mandate provides for its freedom of movement in its area of operations, and any restriction on this is a violation of resolution 1701."
-ABC News' Ghazi Balkiz and Victoria Beaulé