UN Peacekeepers Attacked by Civilians, Vehicles Damaged in Southern Lebanon

On Friday, a UNIFIL peacekeeping patrol in southern Lebanon was attacked by a large group of civilians wielding metal rods, sticks, and axes, resulting in damage to the UN vehicles but no injuries. The patrol, which included Finnish and French peacekeepers, used non-lethal force to protect themselves and disengage from the violent crowd. The incident occurred between the villages of Jmayjmeh and Khirbet Silim and was coordinated with the Lebanese Armed Forces, who quickly arrived to escort the patrol back to base. UNIFIL emphasized that its freedom of movement in the region is guaranteed under UN Security Council Resolution 1701, though it frequently faces accusations from Hezbollah supporters of collusion with Israel, while Israel criticizes UNIFIL for overlooking Hezbollah's military activities. This attack follows recent tensions, including Israeli fire hitting a UNIFIL base, marking the first such incident since a ceasefire was established between Israel and Hezbollah last November. The cause of the attack remains unclear, but it underscores ongoing instability and challenges faced by peacekeepers monitoring the fragile ceasefire in southern Lebanon.