BEIRUT: The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said on Friday that Israeli gunfire landed close to its peacekeepers on two separate occasions in southern Lebanon, raising concern over what it described as a recurring pattern of incidents.
In a statement, UNIFIL said a patrol operating in south Lebanon reported that 15 rounds of small arms fire struck within 50 metres of peacekeepers. No injuries or damage were reported in the incident.
Read More: UN peacekeepers come under Israeli fire in southern Lebanon
Shortly after, peacekeepers on a second patrol in the same area reported that approximately 100 rounds of machine-gun fire landed at a similar distance from their position. UNIFIL confirmed that its personnel were unharmed in both cases.
Israel carried out a series of airstrikes on southern Lebanon on Friday, while UN forces along the border said they were repeatedly threatened by live ammunition fired “50 metres away” pic.twitter.com/9ErTpp0CQ1
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According to the mission, assessments indicated that the fire originated from positions of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) located south of the Blue Line, the de facto border separating Israel and Lebanon. UNIFIL said it immediately sent a request through established liaison channels asking for the firing to stop.
The peacekeeping force added that Israeli authorities had been informed in advance about the movement and activities of UN patrols in the area. Despite this coordination, the incidents occurred within a short span of time.
UNIFIL described the repeated firing near its troops as a “concerning trend,” noting that similar episodes had been reported in recent months. Last week, the mission said an Israeli strike near one of its positions had lightly wounded a peacekeeper.
The force reiterated its call on Israel to halt what it termed aggressive behaviour and to respect the safety of peacekeepers deployed along the Blue Line. It stressed that attacks on or near UN personnel constitute serious violations of UN Security Council Resolution 1701.
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UNIFIL has operated in southern Lebanon for decades, serving as a buffer between Israel and Lebanon. In recent years, it has worked closely with the Lebanese army to support a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.
Under a November 2024 truce, Israel was expected to withdraw from southern Lebanon, though it has retained forces in several areas it considers strategic and continues to conduct strikes, often citing security concerns