On Tuesday morning, Israeli drones were reportedly dropped close to peacekeepers removing roadblocks that were preventing them from reaching a UN position near the southern Lebanese border with Israel (UNIFIL).
Since the cessation of the hostilities agreement in November last year, this is one of the most serious attacks on UNIFIL personnel and assets, according to a statement released on Wednesday.
One grenade struck UN personnel and vehicles within 20 meters and three within 100 meters.
Israel has been violating the ceasefire that it signed in November of this year with Hezbollah, carrying out near-daily attacks on Lebanon, claiming to target Hezbollah members and sites, as well as killing numerous civilians, displaced communities, and destroyed infrastructure and residential structures.
According to UNIFIL, the Israeli army was informed of the location’s southeastern road clearance work.
According to UNIFIL, any actions that put an end to the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah and interfere with their legitimate duties are unacceptable and a serious violation of Resolution 1701 and international law.
UNIFIL patrols Israel’s southern border with Lebanon since it was established in 1978.
The UN Security Council approved a year-long, orderly and secure drawdown and withdrawal of Lebanon last week until the end of 2026.
Israel and the United States have heavily pushed for UNIFIL’s closure, despite the fact that UNIFIL has not fulfilled its stated purpose. They claim that the organization has provided political cover for Hezbollah since the 2006 war.
In addition to its invasion of south Lebanon in October, Israel is still occupying at least five locations on Lebanese territory. Israeli troops should leave south of Lebanon, according to the November ceasefire agreement, but that has not yet been done.
Naim Qassem, the group’s secretary-general, has criticized growing pressure to disarm the organization and warned that achieving Lebanon’s sovereignty could only be achieved by putting an end to Israel’s “aggression.”
Before talks on a national defense strategy can begin, Qassem claimed last month that the Lebanese government must first ensure that Israel adheres to the ceasefire agreement from November 2024.
The Hezbollah leader said that the resistance would continue to serve as a “strong barrier” that would prevent Israel from achieving its objectives and that it would be impossible for Israel to remain in Lebanon or carry out its expansionist project there.
