Adding to the ever-growing number of incidents in which UNIFIL peacekeepers come under attack from Israeli troops in southern Lebanon, the group reported that on Friday they faced direct heavy gunfire in the village of Bastarra, leaving one peacekeeper wounded.
The incident reportedly happened when the patrol was in the security belt at the village, and an explosive device went off in the area. When the explosion happened, Israeli troops just started firing. A secondary incident was reported in Kafr Chouba, another border village, where Israeli troops fired at another UNIFIL patrol, though without casualties. Israel has declined comment in both cases.
The UN emphasized that they had informed the Israeli military of the planned patrols ahead of time in both cases. Such incidents of UNIFIL personnel coming under attack are increasingly common in the area.
France was the first to respond to the incident, condemning the attacks as a violation of the UN Security Council Resolution 1701. They reiterated that the resolution is binding on all parties, and that UN peacekeepers must be protected in accordance with international law.
Finland also issued a statement critical of the Israeli gunfire, saying that the UN “should never be a target” and calling on all sides to refrain from violence in the area.
Earlier this month, Israel accused the UNIFIL of secretly aiding Hezbollah, and using their proximity to the border to provide them with intelligence about Israeli troop movements. The UNIFIL denies this, saying they are entirely neutral.
Israel, however, has been hostile to the UNIFIL for years, viewing them as an obstacle to further military escalation against Lebanon. They have been petitioning the US heavily to see the UN totally defund the peacekeepers, which the US aims to see done by the end of 2026.
