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A United Nations (UN) peacekeeper in southern Lebanon was injured on Saturday when an Israeli grenade exploded near a UN position, the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said on Sunday.
This marks the third such incident involving Israeli grenades near UN personnel in just over a month.
UNIFIL stated that the incident occurred in Kfar Kila shortly before noon and that the injured peacekeeper received medical attention for minor wounds.
Israel acknowledged the event, explaining that the grenade had been dropped to deter individuals attempting to rebuild a Hezbollah military structure.
The Israeli military said it had since reviewed the incident and reinforced safety procedures for strikes near UN positions.
UNIFIL described the incident as “another serious violation of resolution 1701 and concerning disregard for the safety of peacekeepers.”
Resolution 1701, passed by the UN Security Council, ended the 2006 conflict between Israel and Hezbollah and formed the basis of the November ceasefire, which UNIFIL has been monitoring alongside the Lebanese army to maintain stability and dismantle Hezbollah infrastructure in south Lebanon.
The peacekeeping force has previously reported similar incidents, including multiple grenades dropped by Israeli drones earlier this month and in September, with Israel insisting that no attacks were intentionally directed at UN personnel.
Lebanese authorities have condemned the ongoing strikes.
President Joseph Aoun criticised a recent Israeli attack that reportedly killed one person and destroyed hundreds of bulldozers and excavators in Al-Msayleh, while Prime Minister Nawaf Salam called for a formal complaint to the UN Security Council, citing violations of both Resolution 1701 and last year’s ceasefire agreement.
UNIFIL has been deployed since 1978, comprising around 10,000 personnel from nearly 50 countries, with its mission currently scheduled to end in 2027 following a Security Council vote in August.
