A French peacekeeper has been killed and three others wounded after a UN patrol came under fire in southern Lebanon, in what officials described as a deliberate attack.
The soldier was serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil), which confirmed that one peacekeeper had died and three others were injured, two of them seriously, when their patrol came under small-arms fire.
French President Emmanuel Macron blamed the attack on Hezbollah. The Iran-backed armed group denied 'any connection' to the incident.
This attack comes amid heightened tensions in southern Lebanon, where peacekeepers have faced increased risks since renewed fighting between Hezbollah and Israel erupted on 2 March.
A 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon came into effect on 16 April. The US, which announced the deal, urged Hezbollah to respect its terms.
Macron stated, 'Everything suggests that responsibility for this attack lies with Hezbollah.' He demanded that the Lebanese authorities immediately arrest the perpetrators and take responsibility alongside Unifil.
France's Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin reported that the peacekeeper had been part of a mission to restore access to a Unifil position previously cut off by fighting when they were 'ambushed by an armed group at very close range.'
Unifil indicated that the patrol was clearing explosive ordnance along a road in Ghanduriyah when they came under fire from non-state actors, calling the attack 'deliberate.'
The Lebanese Armed Forces stated that they were coordinating closely with Unifil during this sensitive phase in southern Lebanon, following incidents of fire exchanged with armed individuals.
Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun condemned the attack, assuring Macron that those responsible would be brought to justice, while Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has ordered an investigation.
Hezbollah denied involvement, calling allegations 'rushed' and 'baseless,' urging caution before assigning blame as investigations proceeded.
UNIFIL warned that international law mandates all actors ensure the safety of UN personnel, and that attacks on peacekeepers could lead to war crimes charges.
The peacekeeping mission, established in 1978, has faced significant challenges, with over 330 peacekeepers having lost their lives since its inception.
