In brief
A French peacekeeper was killed and three others wounded during a UN patrol in southern Lebanon, which officials described as a deliberate attack. The incident, attributed by French President Macron to Hezbollah, highlights increasing risks for peacekeepers in the region following renewed conflicts. The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) condemned the attack, calling for justice against the perpetrators, while Hezbollah denied any involvement.
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. It comes amid heightened tensions in southern Lebanon, where peacekeepers have faced growing 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 abide by its terms. 'Everything suggests that responsibility for this attack lies with Hezbollah,' Macron said. 'France demands that the Lebanese authorities immediately arrest the perpetrators and take their responsibilities alongside Unifil.'France's Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin said the peacekeeper had been part of a mission to reopen access to a Unifil position cut off by the recent fighting when it had been 'ambushed by an armed group at very close range.' Vautrin added that the soldier was 'hit immediately by a direct shot from a small arms weapon' and was pulled away by fellow soldiers, who were unable to revive him. Unifil said the patrol had been clearing explosive ordnance along a road in the village of Ghanduriyah to reconnect isolated positions and condemned the attack as 'deliberate.'The Lebanese Armed Forces said the incident followed exchanges of fire with armed individuals, adding that it was coordinating closely with Unifil during what it described as a sensitive phase in southern Lebanon. Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun condemned the attack and told Macron during a phone call that those responsible would be brought to justice. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has also ordered an investigation.Hezbollah issued a statement denying responsibility and described accusations as 'rushed' and 'baseless.' The group urged caution in making judgments pending the Lebanese army's investigation. In late March, three Indonesian peacekeepers were killed in separate incidents involving explosive devices and projectile strikes.Unifil warned that under international law 'all actors' must ensure the 'safety and security' of UN personnel, stating that 'deliberate attacks' on peacekeepers are grave violations of international humanitarian law. The peacekeeping force established in 1978 has seen more than 330 peacekeepers killed in its history.
