UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon came under Israeli gunfire twice on Friday, though no one was injured. The incidents occurred near the Blue Line, the de facto border between Israel and Lebanon. UNIFIL described the attacks as a “concerning trend” and urged Israel to halt aggressive actions near its personnel.
According to UNIFIL, peacekeepers reported 15 rounds of small arms fire striking about 50 meters from their patrol. Soon after, another patrol faced approximately 100 rounds of machine-gun fire in the same area. UNIFIL confirmed the fire came from Israeli positions south of the Blue Line and immediately issued “stop fire” requests through liaison channels.
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The UN mission has repeatedly reported Israeli fire near its personnel in recent months. Last week, an Israeli attack lightly wounded a peacekeeper. UNIFIL noted that such attacks violate the 2006 UN Security Council resolution that supports the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. Peacekeepers are acting as a buffer to maintain peace and stability along the border.
Israel maintains forces in five strategic areas in south Lebanon and regularly strikes what it calls Hezbollah targets. Lebanon has pledged to disarm Hezbollah in the south, following heavy US pressure and fears of expanded Israeli attacks. UNIFIL stressed that attacks on peacekeepers undermine the mission’s decades-long efforts to uphold the ceasefire.
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The UN mission called on Israel to stop aggressive behavior and ensure peacekeeper safety. UNIFIL continues to coordinate closely with Lebanon’s army to monitor the ceasefire. Meanwhile, the UN Security Council has scheduled peacekeeper withdrawal from Lebanon in 2027, though tensions remain high along the Blue Line.