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 denied any connection to the incident. It comes amid heightened tensions in southern Lebanon, where peacekeepers have faced growing risks since renewed fighting between Hezbollah and Israel erupted on 2 March. A 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon came into effect on 16 April. The US, which announced the deal, urged Hezbollah to abide by its terms.
Everything suggests that responsibility for this attack lies with Hezbollah, Macron said. France demands that the Lebanese authorities immediately arrest the perpetrators and take their responsibilities alongside Unifil.
France's Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin said the peacekeeper had been part of a mission to reopen access to a Unifil position that had been cut off by the recent fighting when it had been ambushed by an armed group at very close range. Vautrin added that he was hit immediately by a direct shot from a small arms weapon and was pulled away by fellow soldiers, who were unable to revive him.
Unifil indicated the patrol had been clearing explosive ordnance along a road in the village of Ghanduriyah to reconnect isolated positions. It condemned the attack as deliberate. The Lebanese Armed Forces stated the incident followed exchanges of fire with armed individuals, adding that it was coordinating closely with Unifil during this sensitive phase in southern Lebanon.
Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun condemned the attack and assured Macron that those responsible would be brought to justice. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has ordered an investigation. Hezbollah labeled the accusations against it as rushed and baseless, urging caution in judgments pending the Lebanese army's investigation.
In March, three Indonesian peacekeepers were killed in separate incidents involving explosions and projectile strikes. Unifil cautioned that international law necessitates all actors to ensure the safety and security of UN personnel, emphasizing that deliberate attacks are grave violations and could amount to war crimes.
The UN peacekeeping force was established in 1978 following Israel's invasion of southern Lebanon. It has witnessed the loss of more than 330 peacekeepers since its inception.
French President Emmanuel Macron blamed the attack on Hezbollah. The Iran-backed armed group denied any connection to the incident. It comes amid heightened tensions in southern Lebanon, where peacekeepers have faced growing risks since renewed fighting between Hezbollah and Israel erupted on 2 March. A 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon came into effect on 16 April. The US, which announced the deal, urged Hezbollah to abide by its terms.
Everything suggests that responsibility for this attack lies with Hezbollah, Macron said. France demands that the Lebanese authorities immediately arrest the perpetrators and take their responsibilities alongside Unifil.
France's Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin said the peacekeeper had been part of a mission to reopen access to a Unifil position that had been cut off by the recent fighting when it had been ambushed by an armed group at very close range. Vautrin added that he was hit immediately by a direct shot from a small arms weapon and was pulled away by fellow soldiers, who were unable to revive him.
Unifil indicated the patrol had been clearing explosive ordnance along a road in the village of Ghanduriyah to reconnect isolated positions. It condemned the attack as deliberate. The Lebanese Armed Forces stated the incident followed exchanges of fire with armed individuals, adding that it was coordinating closely with Unifil during this sensitive phase in southern Lebanon.
Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun condemned the attack and assured Macron that those responsible would be brought to justice. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has ordered an investigation. Hezbollah labeled the accusations against it as rushed and baseless, urging caution in judgments pending the Lebanese army's investigation.
In March, three Indonesian peacekeepers were killed in separate incidents involving explosions and projectile strikes. Unifil cautioned that international law necessitates all actors to ensure the safety and security of UN personnel, emphasizing that deliberate attacks are grave violations and could amount to war crimes.
The UN peacekeeping force was established in 1978 following Israel's invasion of southern Lebanon. It has witnessed the loss of more than 330 peacekeepers since its inception.
