The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) reported an alarming incident involving an Israeli tank that fired near its peacekeepers on Monday, raising concerns about the increasing frequency of such attacks in recent months. UNIFIL has issued several warnings about Israeli fire being directed near its personnel, with a notable incident occurring less than two weeks ago when gunfire from an Israeli position struck closely to peacekeepers on two separate occasions.
According to a statement from UNIFIL, peacekeepers observed two Merkava tanks moving from an Israeli army position inside Lebanese territory further into Lebanon. These movements and subsequent actions have heightened tensions in an already volatile region. For decades, UNIFIL has operated as a buffer between Israel and Lebanon, playing a crucial role in managing the fragile peace and supporting a year-old ceasefire between Israel and the militant group Hezbollah.
The ceasefire agreement, established in November 2024, included provisions for Israel to withdraw its forces from southern Lebanon; however, Israeli troops have maintained their presence in five strategically significant areas and continue to conduct regular airstrikes in Lebanon, claiming to target Hezbollah positions and operatives.
In their statement, UNIFIL indicated that the peacekeepers had contacted Israeli military officials through established liaison channels to request a halt to the tank operations. Subsequently, one of the tanks discharged three shells from its main gun, with two of the rounds landing approximately 150 meters away from the peacekeepers. The situation escalated as UNIFIL personnel moved to safety, only to find that they were being continuously tracked with a laser by the tanks.
Fortunately, no casualties were reported from the incident; however, UNIFIL made it clear that the Israeli army had been informed of their presence in the area prior to the tank’s actions.
The implications of such attacks are severe, as they constitute a significant breach of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, which brought an end to the 2006 conflict between Israel and Hezbollah and underpins the current truce.
The backdrop of these tensions involves heavy pressure from the United States on the Lebanese government to disarm Hezbollah. In a significant development last week, the Lebanese army announced it had completed disarmament operations in regions near the border.
UNIFIL’s mandate is set to conclude this year, with plans for the force to exit Lebanon by 2027, raising questions regarding the future stability of the region amid escalating incidents and ongoing conflicts. The call for an end to attacks on peacekeepers thus carries considerable weight, as maintaining the delicate balance in southern Lebanon becomes increasingly challenging.
