The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) reported that Israeli soldiers fired on its peacekeepers from a tank near an army position in southern Lebanon on Monday morning. The incident occurred amid ongoing efforts to maintain a truce between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, which was agreed last November.
In a statement, UNIFIL said heavy machine gun rounds landed approximately five metres from its personnel. The peacekeepers were able to withdraw safely about 30 minutes later after the tank returned to the Israeli position. The force described the shooting as a “serious violation of UN Security Council resolution 1701,” which ended the 2006 conflict between Israel and Hezbollah and formed the basis for last year’s ceasefire.
An Irish Defence Forces spokesperson confirmed that no Irish personnel were involved in the incident.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the firing was not intentional and resulted from a misidentification. Poor weather conditions led Israeli forces to mistake the UN soldiers for potential suspects, prompting them to fire warning shots. “After a review, it was determined that the suspects were UN soldiers who were conducting a patrol in the area,” the IDF said. “No deliberate fire was directed toward UNIFIL soldiers.”
The 2024 ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah ended more than a year of hostilities linked to the Gaza war. Under the agreement, Israel was to withdraw forces from southern Lebanon, but it has maintained positions at five strategic locations. Israel has also conducted periodic strikes, citing Hezbollah targets and operatives.
UNIFIL has previously accused Israeli forces of endangering peacekeepers. Following Monday’s incident, the force called on the IDF to “cease any aggressive behavior and attacks on or near peacekeepers.” The organization continues to coordinate with the Lebanese army to monitor compliance with the truce and ensure the safety of its personnel.
The shooting highlights ongoing tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border and the delicate nature of UN peacekeeping operations in the region. UNIFIL continues to patrol and monitor the area to prevent escalations and maintain stability under the truce framework.
