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Last update - 04:17 02/02/2008
Canadian probe blames IDF for UN observer deaths in Lebanon
By The Associated Press
Tags: IDF, UN, Second Lebanon War 

OTTAWA - The deaths of four United Nations military observers during Israeli clashes with Hezbollah in Lebanon two years ago were the result of errors made by the Israel Defense Forces, 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," the board said.

The UN observers died when their compound was hit by a 500-kilo bomb dropped by an Israel Air Force aircraft. The compound was also hit by four 155-mm artillery shells fired by the Israelis during clashes with Hezbollah, the report said.
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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But the fatal bomb was dropped before the four observers could be withdrawn.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.

The incident occurred two weeks after two Israel Defense Forces soldiers were captured and the IDF launched incursions against Hezbollah militants across the border in Lebanon.

"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 board's findings and recommendations will improve the safety of the young men and women 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.

Related articles:
  • Foreign Min. to present report on Lebanon air strike that killed UN forces
  • Six UN peacekeepers killed in southern Lebanon car bombing
  • UN: Peacekeeper killed in south Lebanon cluster bomb explosion
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      1.   Our major will be remembered as another victim of Israeli terror 04:18  |  anti-racist 02/02/08
      2.   Canadian Blood 04:47  |  Jean 02/02/08
      3.   Our Major - #1 04:56  |  Phillipe T. Lucre 02/02/08
      4.   Canada blames Israel for much more than this one death.... 05:16  |  POP 02/02/08
      5.   error of ommission by probe. hazbolla was right up against post 05:44  |  ralph 02/02/08
      6.   un in past lied covered up hazbollah activity around un posts so 05:45  |  ralph 02/02/08
      7.   French Canadians love to Hate Israel 05:45  |  George W. Bush 02/02/08
      8.   The conquest of the West has begun 05:56  |  Canadian 02/02/08
      9.   # 2 Fardeen of Lebanon 06:25  |  Lynn 02/02/08
      10.   Canadian`s last email 06:28  |  Lynn 02/02/08
      11.   `result of errors ` 06:28  |  Colin Wright 02/02/08
      12.   Harper could not care less 06:31  |  Pete 02/02/08
      13.   strongest army cant shoot straight. 07:47  |  pal 02/02/08
      14.   Why didn`t Israel cooperate with the UN and Canadian inquiries 07:50  |  Natallie Durson 02/02/08
      15.   The Peace-keepers were in contact with the IDF 08:49  |  Kris 02/02/08
      16.   ludicrous report! "we dont know what happened 09:18  |  v hardman 02/02/08
      17.   another critic who has probably never seen action anywhere 09:22  |  v hardman 02/02/08
      18.   "Heavily censored" = Whitewash. Israel murders four UN soldiers.. 09:22  |  peacelover 02/02/08
      19.   Canadian 09:42  |  Palestinian Brit 02/02/08
      20.   No 8. French Canadians as well.....? 09:46  |  Palestinian Brit 02/02/08
      21.   the tools that act as hezbollahs tools 10:38  |  don 02/02/08
      22.   Palestinian Brit, read the article carefully 10:53  |  McMuffin 02/02/08
      23.   #6 No, there has been no evidence to support that, Ralph 11:43  |  Johnboy 02/02/08
      24.   UN responsible for not evacuating post - letting Hiz use it 11:45  |  Free Gilad Shalit 02/02/08
      25.   An interesting comment in the report. 12:11  |  Johnboy 02/02/08
      26.   "The operational error" 12:13  |  Anne 02/02/08
      27.   UN cannot afford to be idiots anymore! 12:23  |  The Archives 02/02/08
      28.   Errrr 12:31  |  Abby 02/02/08
      29.   McMuffin, please read the article carefully 12:58  |  Kris 02/02/08
      30.   #7, you dislike French Canadians? 13:03  |  A French Canadian 02/02/08
      31.   Elizabeth? 13:06  |  PAL 02/02/08
      32.   Canadian Probe Blames NOT IDF , the AP Does, Haaretz Irresponsibl 13:36  |  Joseph . E 02/02/08
      33.   McMuffin - caught in crossfire? Where does it say that? 13:39  |  Palestinian Brit 02/02/08
      34.   bring idf criminals to justice 14:21  |  end of discussion 02/02/08
      35.   JUST WONDERING..... 15:02  |  Brant 02/02/08
      36.   And the UN did not see Hez fire any rockets at Israel. UN`s ajoke 15:21  |  Cynic 02/02/08
      37.   More anti-Israeli bias 15:27  |  Frank 02/02/08
      38.   Durson, Pal Brit, Jean, POP, et al - the truth is... 16:19  |  Joe Sittizen 02/02/08
      39.   MAJOR-GENERAL(ret`d) LEWIS MACKENZIE 16:24  |  Another Canadian 02/02/08
      40.   MAJOR-GENERAL(ret`d) LEWIS MACKENZIE 2 16:30  |  Another Canadian 02/02/08
      41.   #4 POP...no they don`t 16:37  |  Lynn 02/02/08
      42.   # 33 Pal Brit...the Canadian sent an email 16:42  |  Lynn 02/02/08
      43.   #18 17:15  |  sammy 02/02/08
      44.   #30 - to French Canadian 17:30  |  Canadian Jew 02/02/08
      45.   #23; Johnboy, So what do you think he meant ? 17:37  |  Doc Holliday 02/02/08
      46.   To #40: Canadian allegiance to Hizballah 17:47  |  Frank 02/02/08
      47.   to another Canadian 18:13  |  yigal 02/02/08
      48.   25: Yes, much more interesting than JB`s fantasies 18:56  |  David Teich 02/02/08
      49.   To Yigal 19:17  |  Another Canadian 02/02/08
      50.   #19 pal brit,what was really unnecessary was hesbullah kidnapping 19:17  |  terrornator 02/02/08
      51.   Yigal Re: Another Canadian 19:19  |  Anna 02/02/08
      52.   johnboy # 23 you were probally one of those,just like most arab 19:24  |  terrornator 02/02/08
      53.   Natallie 20:10  |  Brad 02/02/08
      54.   French Canadians= French= No like Jews.. 20:12  |  Tom 02/02/08
      55.   Another Canadian 20:18  |  Canadian 02/02/08
      56.   wrong. it is entirely the fault of theocrat invaders. 20:22  |  frenz 02/02/08
      57.   Canada was quite nice to term this an "error" 20:53  |  Mark Lincoln 02/02/08
      58.   These " Rookies" were in the way... 20:54  |  Stephen. 02/02/08
      59.   To Frank 21:13  |  Another Canadian 02/02/08
      60.   lynn - and the 500lb Israeli bomb which actually killed the 4? 21:43  |  Palestinian Brit 02/02/08
      61.   Terronator....round about way of blaming Hizbullah! 21:47  |  Palestinian Brit 02/02/08
      62.   Canadians 22:19  |  Gene 02/02/08
      63.   Usual talkback Hysteria 22:37  |  phil 02/02/08
      64.   Another Canadian # 40 23:16  |  Another American 02/02/08
      65.   # 54 Tom about French Canadains and Canadians 23:19  |  Richard B. 02/02/08
      66.   "George Bush" re French Canadians 23:23  |  Gaston 02/02/08
      67.   # 7 23:26  |  Canadian citizen 02/02/08
      68.   #38 jo sittizen 23:28  |  Labhras 02/02/08
      69.   Palestinian Brit 23:51  |  Canadian 02/02/08
      70.   #48 David Teich has a lovely view from Teichworld 00:10  |  Johnboy 03/02/08
      71.   #45 What did he MEAN, Doc Holliday? 00:22  |  Johnboy 03/02/08
      72.