The UN peacekeeping mission reported that heavy artillery fire landed just five meters away, forcing UNIFIL peacekeepers to quickly retreat and seek cover. They managed to communicate with the IDF to halt the attack, as stated in a UNIFIL press release. The patrol departed safely half an hour later when the tank moved back to IDF positions.
“No one was injured,” the statement revealed, noting the attack violated the law, specifically Security Council Resolution 1701, aimed at resolving the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. Inquiries by local media elicited IDF claims that the incident was due to “misidentification” by UNIFIL troops caused by weather conditions and not an intentional attack.
This marks the third incident in three months. On September 2, IDF drones dropped grenades near UNIFIL peacekeepers clearing roadblocks by the “Blue Line” between Israel and Lebanon. On October 26, UNIFIL reported an Israeli drone dropped a grenade near a patrol, followed by tank fire targeting the peacekeepers.
This latest incident occurs as UNIFIL approaches its end in 2027, having served nearly half a century along the Blue Line. Established in 1978 to oversee Israel’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon, the mission, with 10,500 peacekeepers, has contributed significantly to regional stability. Its mandate was reinforced after the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah conflict and again after last fall’s deadly clashes. Since the November 2024 ceasefire, UNIFIL has supported Lebanese Army redeployment in contested areas, while Israel maintains military positions.
“We urge the IDF to halt aggressive actions against peacekeepers,” stated UNIFIL, emphasizing that its forces work to restore the stability sought by both Israel and Lebanon.
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