UNIFIL says informed 'Israel' of patrol it fired at in South Lebanon
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UNIFIL confirms Israeli forces opened fire on a coordinated patrol and violated the Blue Line in Jabal al-Sheikh by constructing a wall in Lebanese territory.
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French UN peacekeepers patrol the Lebanese-Israeli border in the village of Houla, southern Lebanon, Wednesday, August 20, 2025 (AP)
The spokesperson for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), Candice Ardiel, confirmed to Al Mayadeen that the Israeli occupation forces were aware of the peacekeepers’ patrol in the area where Sunday’s incident occurred.
Ardiel said that UNIFIL had informed both the Lebanese Army and the occupation military in advance of the patrol’s planned movement on Sunday morning, as part of standard coordination procedures aimed at preventing friction along the Lebanese-Palestinian border.
Earlier Monday, the joint verification committee between UNIFIL and the Lebanese Army confirmed that the Israeli regime violated the Blue Line in Jabal al-Sheikh by constructing a wall on Lebanese territory.
UN says Israeli tank opened fire on peacekeepers
On Sunday, UNIFIL reported that an Israeli Merkava tank opened fire toward its forces near a site built by the occupation inside Lebanese land.
The peacekeeping mission said in a statement that heavy machine-gun rounds struck near its personnel at a distance of around five meters. The soldiers, who were on foot patrol, were forced to seek immediate cover.
The incident marks a dangerous escalation against UN peacekeepers operating under a UN mandate, amid continued Israeli aggression on Lebanese soil despite ongoing diplomatic efforts to restore calm along the border.
'Israel' vioated Resolution 1701
An Israeli Merkava tank fired on UNIFIL personnel near an Israeli-built position inside Lebanese territory, the UN's peacekeeping force in Lebanon reported on Sunday.
In a statement, UNIFIL said its soldiers, who were on foot patrol, were forced to take cover after heavy machine-gun fire struck approximately five meters from their location, confirming that none of the UN peacekeepers were injured.
The peacekeeping force described the incident as a "serious violation" of UN Security Council Resolution 1701.
On Friday, UNIFIL issued a statement condemning the ongoing Israeli construction of a border wall inside Lebanese territory, which crosses the UN-established Blue Line. The force stated that this construction violates Resolution 1701 and constitutes an infringement on Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Lebanese Army condemns Israeli attack on UNIFIL personnel
The Lebanese Army has condemned the recent Israeli attack on UNIFIL peacekeepers in southern Lebanon, accusing "Israel" of obstructing the deployment of its own forces in the region and deliberately undermining stability.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Army Command stated it is working with "friendly countries" to put an "end to the violations by the Israeli enemy" following the attack on the international peacekeeping force.
The Army accused "Israel" of persisting in its "violations of Lebanese sovereignty," which it said causes destabilization. It further claimed that these actions are impeding the full deployment of Lebanese troops in the south, citing the "latest condemned assault," which involved the targeting of a UNIFIL patrol.
The statement emphasized the urgent need to "halt the continuous violations and breaches by the enemy," warning that they represent a dangerous escalation that requires immediate action.
