Deaths of UN observers 'IDF error'

Canadian board of inquiry into war incident says fatal bomb dropped before workers could be withdrawn.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
un lebanon 224 (photo credit: AP [file])
un lebanon 224
(photo credit: AP [file])
The deaths of four UN military observers during the Second Lebanon War two years ago were preventable, a Canadian Forces board of inquiry found Friday. The deaths of Canadian Maj. Paeta Hess-Von Kruedener and three other unarmed observers from China, Austria and Finland were "tragic and preventable," and were the result of errors by the IDF, the board said. The UN observers died when their compound was hit by a 500-kilo bomb dropped by an IAF aircraft. The compound was also hit by four 155-mm artillery shells fired by the IDF, the report said. "As the shelling and bombing in the vicinity of Patrol Base Khiam increased in frequency and accuracy, the decision was made to evacuate," said the report. "But the fatal bomb was dropped before the four observers could be withdrawn." The heavily-censored report said the compound's main building was nearly destroyed by the strikes. Both the United Nations and Canadian chains of command were aware of the risks of the peacekeeping operation, said the report, but the Canadians deferred to the UN on all tactical decisions. The board could not assign blame beyond the Israeli military because neither the UN nor the IDF fully cooperated with the investigation. The IDF provided only an oral summary of its findings that was of limited use, said the board. The report's 13 recommendations include calls for better communication and situational analysis, but it found no fault with UN command in the area of operations. "The findings and recommendations will improve the safety of those who proudly wear our uniform. Maj. Hess-Von Kruedener did not die in vain and we shall never forget his ultimate contribution in the pursuit of peace," Canada's chief of defense staff, Gen. Rick Hillier, said in a statement. Hess-Von Kruedener and the other observers were working as part of Operation Jade on behalf of the UN Truce Supervision Organization. The Canadian Forces board is an administrative inquiry that examines and reports on significant military events to prevent similar future situations. It is not a criminal investigation.