An Israeli tank shell attack on UNIFIL peacekeepers late last month has been confirmed to have killed at least one peacekeeper, according to a UNIFIL investigation, which found a 120mm main tank shell at the scene and determined it was fired by an Israeli Merkava tank.
The Israeli strike targeted the headquarters of the UNIFIL contingent from Indonesia, in southern Lebanon’s Marjayoun District, killing one peacekeeper and seriously wounding a second. A third peacekeeper was also reported killed, reportedly by a Hezbollah explosive device.
The Israeli military had issued a statement that amounted to a blanket denial of the incident, though they only cited the explosive device and denied that was theirs, and did not address the direct shelling by a battle tank of the UNIFIL position.
A relative reacts next to the grave of Zulmi Aditya Iskandar, a United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) peacekeeper killed in Lebanon, after the funeral ceremony at Cikutra Heroes Cemetery in Bandung, West Java province, Indonesia, April 5, 2026. REUTERS/Claudio Pramana
The IDF also called on the UNIFIL to follow Israeli evacuation orders and withdraw from active areas, which effectively amount to the whole south of Lebanon, which is thew only place the UNIFIL operates in the first place.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez issued a statement calling for all attacks on UN peacekeepers to end, adding that Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity “must be respected.” Spain has contributed a substantial number of troops to the UNIFIL operation.
Over the weekend, the UNIFIL expressed disquiet about the growing attacks on their positions, citing Israeli troops having destroyed some 17 UNIFIL cameras in Ras Naqoura, and warning that the peacekeepers may “return fire” if they continue to come under attack.
