Yesterday afternoon, a UNIFIL patrol involving French and Finnish peacekeepers – while conducting a patrol in the village of Bedias – faced a denial of freedom of movement from a group of individuals with at least one of them armed. 

The patrol managed to get around the obstruction and continued along its planned route. About an hour later, when the patrol had just crossed the village of Maarakeh, it was fired upon about 40 times from behind, likely from non-state actor members. Shortly after the patrol leader’s order to accelerate to get out of the area quickly, while staying on the planned route, the patrol reached safety at a UNIFIL base in Deir Kifa. The Lebanese Armed Forces was immediately informed about the incident.

Although some patrol vehicles had bullet impacts, there was no injury to the peacekeepers.

UNIFIL patrols are paramount for force protection, ensuring peacekeepers can safely fulfill their mandated duties. 

UNIFIL has launched an investigation into the incident.

It is unacceptable that UNIFIL peacekeepers, while conducting Security Council-mandated tasks, are routinely targeted. Yesterday’s incident serves as yet another stark reminder about the dangerous situation under which the peacekeepers operate daily in south Lebanon.

It is the responsibility of Lebanese authorities to ensure that UNIFIL peacekeepers can carry out their mandated tasks without fear or threats.

Once again, UNIFIL reminds all actors to ongoing hostilities across the Blue Line to avoid actions putting UN peacekeepers in danger. They must respect the inviolability of UN personnel and premises at all times.

Any attack against the peacekeepers is a flagrant violation of international laws and resolution 1701, which forms the basis of UNIFIL’s current mandate.

Despite these and other challenges, peacekeepers remain in all positions and will continue to impartially monitor and report on violations of resolution 1701.