UN Peacekeeper Injured in Southern Lebanon Incident

Alarm Incident in Southern Lebanon

A United Nations peacekeeper was injured on Friday due to intense machine-gun fire from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) near the Blue Line, following a grenade explosion that occurred near a UN patrol in southern Lebanon.

According to a statement addressed to journalists by UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, the incident took place while a patrol from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) was inspecting a checkpoint in the village of Bastarra in southern Lebanon.

The Blue Line, established by the United Nations, stretches approximately 120 kilometers along the southern border of Lebanon and serves as a “withdrawal line” to confirm Israel's pullout from southern Lebanon.

In a separate incident that same day, another UNIFIL patrol reported machine-gun fire from southern the Blue Line, in close proximity to its position near the village of Kfar Shouba.

“UNIFIL informed the Israel Defense Forces about activities in those areas in advance, in accordance with standard practice for patrols in sensitive areas near the Blue Line,” stated Dujarric.

He emphasized that incidents in recent days have restricted the movement of UNIFIL by local individuals in the Mission's area of operations.

“Any act that could jeopardize the safety and security of UN peacekeepers is completely unacceptable,” added Dujarric.

“We reiterate our call to all parties to cease activities that endanger the well-being of peacekeepers and interfere with their mandated activities in support of the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701,” he remarked.

The UN spokesperson reminded all parties of their responsibility to ensure the safety and security of peacekeepers.

Additionally, the UN mission announced that Israeli airstrikes had occurred in the area of operations of the peacekeeping force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), according to a statement issued on Friday.