Lebanese army rejects Israeli claims of UNIFIL collusion as 'baseless'
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The Lebanese Army rejected Israeli claims accusing a senior officer of collusion in a 2022 UNIFIL incident, affirming the officer’s role in uncovering the facts.
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A Lebanese army officer, speaks on his radio as he deploys at the entrance of Burj al-Barajneh Palestinian refugee camp where Palestinian factions handed over weapons to the Lebanese army, in Beirut, Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025. (AP)
The Lebanese Army on Friday firmly rejected accusations made by Avichay Adraee, spokesperson for the Israeli occupation military, who claimed that a senior Lebanese officer collaborated with Hezbollah to shield individuals allegedly involved in the 2022 killing of a UNIFIL peacekeeper.
In an official statement, the Lebanese Army dismissed the claims as baseless, noting that "a hostile social media account" had circulated the accusation that a Lebanese officer covered for suspects in the December 2022 incident that led to the death of a UNIFIL member.
The army emphasized that its officers carry out their national duties with “integrity and professionalism across all Lebanese regions.” It further clarified that the officer named by the occupation, Suhail Bahij Harb, had played a key role in coordinating with UNIFIL and uncovering details of the incident, as part of ongoing and close cooperation between the Lebanese Army and the UN peacekeeping force.
In contrast, the army accused "Israel" of continuing its violations of Lebanese sovereignty, stating that
“The Israeli enemy persists in its daily violations and aggressions, occupying Lebanese land and spreading falsehoods, demonstrating more than ever its intent to destabilize Lebanon internally.”
The Israeli aggression on Lebanon continues unrestricted despite the ceasefire brokered on November 27, 2024, with near-daily attacks on South Lebanon and its residents, as well as a number of attacks on Beirut's Southern Suburb.
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