UNIFIL claimed that an Israeli tank fired a shot towards UN peacekeepers on the Israel-Lebanon border on Sunday.

A UN vehicle drives, during a Reuters’ visit at Camp Shamrock where Irish and Polish peacekeepers of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) are stationed near Maroun al-Ras village close to the Lebanese-Israeli’ border, in southern Lebanon November 29, 2023.
(photo credit: AZIZ TAHER/REUTERS)

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) accused Israel of violating Security Council resolution 1701 and Lebanon’s sovereignty in a series of X/Twitter posts on Sunday.

The first post of the series said that an “Israeli drone came close to a UNIFIL patrol operating near Kfar Fila and dropped a grenade.”

“Moments later, an Israeli tank fired a shot towards the peacekeepers. Fortunately, no injury or damage was caused to the UNIFIL peacekeepers and assets,” it continued.

UNIFIL also claimed that these actions “show disregard for safety and security of the peacekeepers implementing Security-Council mandated tasks in southern Lebanon,” which it said are in violation of Security Council resolution 1701 and Lebanon’s sovereignty.

UNIFIL, which has been operating on Lebanon’s southern border since 1978, is set to begin a year-long withdrawal at the end of 2026.

Polish peacekeepers stand together during Reuters’ visit at Camp Shamrock where Irish and Polish peacekeepers of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) are stationed near Maroun al-Ras village close to the Lebanese-Israeli border, in southern Lebanon November 29, 2023. (credit: AZIZ TAHER/REUTERS)

The US announced it will also halt support to the organization by that time, citing a “radically different” security environment than just one year ago and placing more responsibility on the Lebanese government for security concerns. 

A second incident?

The UN organization also cited earlier incidents of Israeli drones flying over UNIFIL patrol in an “aggressive manner,” stating that “the peacekeepers applied necessary defensive countermeasures to neutralize the drone.” 

In early September, the IDF mistakenly sent drones to drop grenades near UNIFIL posts after believing they were Hezbollah forces.

UNIFIL also condemned the attacks at the time, stating that “this is one of the most serious attacks on UNIFIL personnel and assets since the cessation of hostilities agreement of last November.”

The IDF sent a clarification to UNIFIL, saying that it would never intentionally target UNIFIL forces.

The IDF has not yet spoken out regarding the supposed recent attacks on Sunday.

As reported by The Jerusalem Post