A French peacekeeper has been killed and three others wounded after a UN patrol came under fire in southern Lebanon, in what officials described as a deliberate attack. The soldier was serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil), which confirmed that one peacekeeper had died and three others were injured, two of them seriously, when their patrol came under small-arms fire.
French President Emmanuel Macron blamed the attack on Hezbollah, the Iran-backed armed group, which denied any responsibility. The attack comes amid heightened tensions in southern Lebanon, where peacekeepers have faced increased risks since renewed fighting between Hezbollah and Israel erupted on 2 March.
A ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon was established on 16 April, with the U.S. urging Hezbollah to respect its terms. President Macron stressed, Everything suggests that responsibility for this attack lies with Hezbollah, demanding that the Lebanese authorities arrest the perpetrators.
France's Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin indicated that the peacekeeper was part of a mission to restore access to a Unifil position that had been cut off due to fighting when the patrol was ambushed. Unifil condemned the attack as a deliberate act and noted that their patrol had been clearing explosive ordnance when it came under fire from non-state actors.
The Lebanese Armed Forces reported coordinating closely with Unifil during this sensitive phase. President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam condemned the attack and warranted an investigation. Hezbollah labeled the accusations as baseless and called for caution in assigning blame.
Unifil emphasized that all actors under international law are obligated to ensure the safety of UN personnel, stating that deliberate attacks on peacekeepers can amount to war crimes. The peacekeeping force in Lebanon was established in 1978 and has seen significant casualties, with over 330 peacekeepers killed since its inception.
French President Emmanuel Macron blamed the attack on Hezbollah, the Iran-backed armed group, which denied any responsibility. The attack comes amid heightened tensions in southern Lebanon, where peacekeepers have faced increased risks since renewed fighting between Hezbollah and Israel erupted on 2 March.
A ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon was established on 16 April, with the U.S. urging Hezbollah to respect its terms. President Macron stressed, Everything suggests that responsibility for this attack lies with Hezbollah, demanding that the Lebanese authorities arrest the perpetrators.
France's Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin indicated that the peacekeeper was part of a mission to restore access to a Unifil position that had been cut off due to fighting when the patrol was ambushed. Unifil condemned the attack as a deliberate act and noted that their patrol had been clearing explosive ordnance when it came under fire from non-state actors.
The Lebanese Armed Forces reported coordinating closely with Unifil during this sensitive phase. President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam condemned the attack and warranted an investigation. Hezbollah labeled the accusations as baseless and called for caution in assigning blame.
Unifil emphasized that all actors under international law are obligated to ensure the safety of UN personnel, stating that deliberate attacks on peacekeepers can amount to war crimes. The peacekeeping force in Lebanon was established in 1978 and has seen significant casualties, with over 330 peacekeepers killed since its inception.
