The U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon, which is responsible for Lebanon’s border with Israel, said it was ambushed on Saturday, “likely” by “non-state actor members.”
UNIFIL stated that French and Finnish troops were patrolling the village of Bedias when a group of unnamed people—at least one of whom was armed—obstructed the U.N. soldiers.
They continued along their route and, when they crossed into the village of Maarakeh an hour later, they were “fired upon about 40 times from behind.”
The troops hustled out of the area and reached a UNIFIL base in Deir Kafa. There were no injuries, and UNIFIL said some of its patrol vehicles were struck by bullets.
“It is the responsibility of Lebanese authorities to ensure that UNIFIL peacekeepers can carry out their mandated tasks without fear or threats,” UNIFIL stated.
The U.N. mission did not mention Hezbollah, the terror group that controls southern Lebanon and is the reason that the United Nations maintains a presence in the area.
“UNIFIL has a hard time saying who the armed people denying them freedom of movement might be. Hezbollah,” wrote Matthew Levitt, director of the counterterrorism and intelligence program at the Washington Institute.
The U.N. mission has criticized Israel regularly. In recent months, Israel has asked it to alter its positions in southern Lebanon, so that Jerusalem can carry out military operations to further degrade Hezbollah’s capability. UNIFIL has refused, putting its troops in harm’s way, Israel has said.
The U.N. Security Council will meet on Tuesday to discuss Resolution 1701, a 2016 call to disband Hezbollah and return sovereignty of southern Lebanon to the Lebanese government.
