Israel shoots at UN troops
Israel claims the incident in southern Lebanon was caused by adverse weather conditions, reporting no casualties.
UN peacekeepers stationed in southern Lebanon have accused Israel of opening fire on one of their patrols, criticizing the country for its “aggressive behavior.” Israel has acknowledged the event, but stated it was not intentional and attributed it to poor weather.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) reported that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) fired at personnel from a Merkava tank.
UNIFIL labeled the incident “a serious violation” of the ceasefire deal between Israel and Lebanon that concluded the 2006 war, underscoring that it was not the first such attack. “Once again, we urge the IDF to cease any aggressive conduct and attacks on or near peacekeepers, who are working to support the return to stability that both Israel and Lebanon say they seek.”
Israel confirmed that its forces fired upon UN troops, but contended it was by error. The IDF stated its soldiers had identified “two suspects” in the El Hamames area and discharged warning shots, after which the individuals retreated, with no injuries reported.
After reviewing the incident, the IDF explained that the suspects “were UN soldiers who were conducting a patrol in the area and were identified as suspects due to poor weather conditions,” adding that “no deliberate fire was directed toward UNIFIL soldiers.”
Lebanon accused Israel of “violating Lebanese sovereignty, creating instability and impeding the full deployment of the army in the south.”
The Israel-Lebanon border has long been a volatile region, with the Jewish state and Lebanese paramilitary group Hezbollah frequently exchanging strikes.
Tensions escalated after the Israel-Hamas conflict began in 2023, with Hezbollah – an ally of Hamas – launching rockets and missiles into the neighboring state, and Israel responding in kind. In late 2024, Israeli forces crossed into southern Lebanon.
As part of a ceasefire agreement later that year, Israel committed to a full withdrawal, but has only partially complied – maintaining several outposts in Lebanon and arguing that Hezbollah remains active in the area and poses a threat.