Three UN military monitors, as well as a Lebanese translator, have been wounded during patrols on the southern border of Lebanon, following a shell detonation in their proximity according to officials. They were part of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation, a body that assists the UN’s peacekeeping operations in the south of Lebanon (Unifil).
The upheaval took place amidst escalating conflict between the Israeli defence forces and Hizbullah militants in recent weeks. The Irish Defence Forces (DF) confirmed their personnel remain unharmed in the incident. The DF relayed on platform X, that their medical staff attended to and stabilised the injured before one was airlifted to Beirut, a manoeuvre coordinated by the 123rd Infantry Battalion.
Since the Israel-Hamas battle in Gaza commenced, both sides have continually exchanged fire, raising concerns over the possibility of a full-blown warfare due to regular clashes along the border. Lebanese local news outlets reported an Israeli-drone targetting the monitors, in the southern locale of Wadi Katmoun next to the border town of Rmeich.
Al-Manar, a television channel run by Hizbullah, claimed that the drone attack injured three officers from Australia, Chile, Norway and a Lebanese interpreter. However, the Israeli defence forces on social media platform X, previously regarded as Twitter, stated, “Contrary to the reports, the IDF did not strike a @UNIFIL vehicle in the Rmeish area today.”
Andrea Tenenti, a spokesperson for Unifil, conveyed that the source of the explosion is under examination, further adding that peacekeepers must not become targets. “We reinforce our plea for all parties to end the ongoing severe exchanges of fire to prevent further, unnecessary harm,” he said.
The incident was denounced by Lebanese caretaker prime minister, Najib Mikat. Unifil was established to oversee the withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon following the 1978 invasion by Israel. Following the 2006 war between Israel and Hizbullah, the UN extended its mission allowing peacekeepers to be deployed along the Israeli border to aid the Lebanese military in establishing their authority in the southern part of the country for the first time in several years. – AP