UN, France Condemn Israel Over Lebanon Peacekeeper Attack

UN, France Condemn Israeli Fire Near Peacekeepers in Lebanon

The United Nations and France have issued strong condemnations after Israeli forces fired near UN peacekeeping troops in southern Lebanon. This incident occurred shortly after peacekeepers neutralized an Israeli reconnaissance drone, escalating regional tensions.

UN Protests ‘Dangerous’ Incident

A UN spokesperson expressed deep concern over the events near the southern Lebanese town of Kfar Kila. Reports confirm an Israeli drone dropped a grenade near a UNIFIL patrol. Subsequently, an Israeli tank fired a shot toward the peacekeepers. The UN stated it is vehemently protesting the incident with the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), noting this is not the first time its personnel have felt targeted by warning shots or laser pointing. The UN described these actions as very dangerous.

France, whose troops were involved in the patrol, separately condemned the Israeli fire. The French foreign ministry highlighted that this event follows similar incidents earlier in the month where the Israeli army targeted UNIFIL positions, raising serious safety concerns.

As detailed in the complete version, there are several key factors to consider.

UNIFIL Neutralizes Drone, Details Escalation

According to UNIFIL, an Israeli drone initially flew over its patrol in what was described as an aggressive manner. The peacekeepers applied necessary defensive countermeasures to neutralize the drone. Later, another Israeli drone approached a patrol and dropped a grenade. Moments after that, an Israeli tank fired a shot towards the peacekeepers. Fortunately, no injuries or damage to UN assets were reported. The force stated these actions show a disregard for the safety of personnel implementing Security Council-mandated tasks.

Israel Claims Drone Was Shot Down Deliberately

An Israeli military spokesman offered a different perspective. He stated that an intelligence-gathering drone was deliberately shot down by UNIFIL forces in the Kfar Kila area. The IDF’s initial inquiry suggested the drone’s activity did not pose a threat to the UN peacekeepers. This confrontation underscores the fragile state of the ceasefire agreement in southern Lebanon, where UNIFIL and the Lebanese army work to maintain stability.