The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has strongly condemned the recent attack on one of its patrols in southern Lebanon by Israeli fire. The incident occurred during a period of relative calm along the border between Lebanon and Israel, and no peacekeepers were injured, although the vehicle was damaged.
The attack, which occurred despite a truce between Israel and Hamas, has been described by UNIFIL as “deeply troubling.” The force reminded the parties involved of their obligations to protect peacekeepers and called for an investigation into the incident. Cross-border fire has resulted in casualties on both sides, with many Lebanese expressing both empathy for the Palestinians and fear of being drawn into a new conflict.
Since the ceasefire went into effect, calm has largely returned to Lebanon’s southern border. UNIFIL, established in 1978 to monitor the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon, continues to play an important role in monitoring the ceasefire and working to restore stability in the region.