Peacekeepers attacked by Israel in southern Lebanon

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) has strongly condemned what it termed “one of the most serious attacks” on peacekeepers in the south of the country since the November ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, The National via AFP reported on September 3rd.

Israeli drones dropped four grenades near Unifil personnel who were clearing roadblocks obstructing access to a UN position near the Blue Line. According to Unifil, one grenade impacted within 20 metres and three within roughly 100 metres of UN vehicles and staff.

In the wake of the incident, operations were suspended over safety concerns. Unifil underscored that such actions, endangering UN personnel and assets, breach both Resolution 1701 and international law.

This incident has occurred amid the UN Security Council’s unanimous decision to terminate Unifil’s long‑standing mission by December 31st 2026, marking the end of nearly five decades of operations. The Council authorised a phased drawdown while calling on the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) to assume full security responsibility in southern Lebanon.

Unifil’s role has included searching for weapons caches. On May 12th, the mission reported discovering over 225 weapon stockpiles in southern Lebanon since the ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel.

Meanwhile, internal Lebanese dynamics are shifting. On August 13th, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun reiterated that no armed groups are permitted in the country, reflecting a growing push by the government for Hezbollah to disarm. This follows a broader political consensus supporting a US‑backed plan to disarm armed factions by the end of the year.

As the UN mission winds down and the Lebanese army seeks to consolidate authority, Israel’s continued military presence and drone activity in the region threatens to stoke new tensions. The grenade incident highlights the fragility of the current ceasefire and raises critical questions about the future of peacekeeping in southern Lebanon, as well as, who will hold the line once Unifil departs.

The National via AFP, Maghrebi.org