The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) announced Friday that two of its patrols were subjected to fire originating from an Israeli position. The incidents, which occurred in close proximity to the peacekeepers, did not result in any injuries, but UNIFIL has described them as a “disturbing pattern.”
According to a UNIFIL statement, peacekeepers conducting a patrol in southern Lebanon reported being targeted by approximately 15 rounds of small arms fire at a distance of no more than 50 meters. Less than 20 minutes later, a second patrol in the same area reported being subjected to roughly 100 rounds of machine gun fire from approximately 50 meters away. No damage or injuries were sustained in either incident.
The statement indicated that the peacekeepers assessed the fire in both cases originated from a position belonging to the Israeli military, located south of the Blue Line. UNIFIL immediately issued a request to cease fire through its established communication channels. The UN peacekeeping force also stated that the Israeli military had been pre-informed of UNIFIL activities in the areas where the incidents took place.
Last week, UNIFIL reported that an Israeli strike near one of its positions in southern Lebanon resulted in minor injuries to one peacekeeper.
Violations of Resolution 1701
In Friday’s statement, UNIFIL emphasized that “attacks on or near peacekeepers are serious violations of UN Security Council Resolution 1701,” which underpins the ceasefire agreement. The Security Council voted in August to extend UNIFIL’s mandate until the end of 2026.
Since the implementation of the ceasefire in late November 2024, UNIFIL has recorded over 10,000 Israeli violations of the agreement. These violations have allegedly resulted in casualties and material damage.
DZWatch continues to monitor the situation and will provide updates as they become available.
