A French peacekeeper has been killed, and three others wounded, after a UN patrol came under fire in southern Lebanon, described by officials as a deliberate attack.
The soldier was serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil), which confirmed the incident where one peacekeeper died and three others sustained injuries, two of them seriously, due to small-arms fire.
French President Emmanuel Macron accused Hezbollah of being responsible for the attack, while the Iran-backed group denied any connection. This incident occurs amidst rising tensions in the region, particularly following renewed fighting between Hezbollah and Israel that erupted on March 2.
Notably, a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon was announced on April 16, and the US urged Hezbollah to abide by the terms of the deal. Macron called for the immediate arrest of those responsible, urging the Lebanese authorities to take accountability in collaboration with Unifil.
Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin revealed that the fallen soldier was involved in a mission to reopen access to a Unifil position cut off by the ongoing conflict when his unit was ambushed at close range. Vautrin noted that the soldier was struck immediately with a direct shot from a small arms weapon and was pulled away by fellow soldiers who could not revive him.
Unifil explained that their patrol was clearing explosive ordnance along a road in Ghanduriyah when they came under fire from non-state actors, condemning the attack as deliberate.
The Lebanese Armed Forces stated exchanges of fire occurred with armed individuals, coordinating closely with Unifil during what they termed as a sensitive phase in southern Lebanon. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the attack, promising that those responsible would face justice, with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam ordering a thorough investigation.
Hezbollah labeled the accusations against it as "rushed" and "baseless," calling for caution in judgment while stressing the necessity for an investigation to understand the incident fully.
Since its establishment in 1978, over 330 peacekeepers have been killed in related incidents, raising significant concerns around the safety of UN personnel, especially under the current geopolitical dynamics in the region.
