UN condemns Israeli grenade attacks near peacekeepers in southern Lebanon

Alsharq Tribune-Ahmed Essam 

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) on Friday condemned Israeli grenade attacks near its peacekeepers and Lebanese soldiers in southern Lebanon, calling them a serious violation of UN Security Council resolution 1701.

In a statement, UNIFIL said that Israel Defense Forces (IDF) drones on Thursday dropped several grenades near peacekeepers who were working alongside Lebanese soldiers to protect civilian workers clearing the rubble of homes destroyed in the conflict in the border village of Maroun al-Ras.

At around 11:30 a.m. (0830 GMT), peacekeepers at two separate locations heard a grenade explode near an excavator about 500 meters away. Minutes later, one group saw a drone overhead and witnessed an explosion 30 to 40 meters away. About 20 minutes after that, another group reported a grenade dropped by a drone exploding only 20 meters above their heads, according to the statement.

"Attacks on peacekeepers or interference with their mandated tasks show disregard for the safety and security of UNIFIL peacekeepers and the Lebanese army, and the stability they are working to restore in south Lebanon," UNIFIL said.

The statement said UNIFIL had informed the IDF in advance of the work and immediately demanded an end to the attacks. No casualties were reported, and the clearance operation later resumed.

On Aug. 28, the UN Security Council extended UNIFIL's mandate for the final time ahead of its planned withdrawal. Resolution 2790, which was unanimously adopted by the 15-member council, extends the mandate until Dec. 31, 2026, before a year-long drawdown and withdrawal. It also calls on Israel to withdraw its forces north of the Blue Line and to lift the designated buffer zones north of the line.

Clashes between the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah and Israel erupted shortly after the Gaza war began in October 2023, with Hezbollah launching attacks on Israel in a show of solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.

A U.S.- and French-brokered ceasefire has been in place between Hezbollah and Israel since Nov. 27, 2024.

Despite the agreement, the Israeli army occasionally carries out strikes in Lebanon, claiming they target Hezbollah "threats," while maintaining its forces at five main points in the Lebanese border region.

The IDF said in a statement that it struck a Hezbollah site in southern Lebanon early Friday morning.

According to the Israeli army, the site was used to manage Hezbollah's fire and defense array, in which military activity was identified in the area of the Beaufort Ridge.

It added that at the site, weapons, military structures, and tunnels were struck.