IDF says it dropped grenades from drone in Lebanon, is probing UNIFIL claim observers were nearby

The Israeli military says it is investigating after the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon reported that the IDF dropped grenades near its forces and Lebanese soldiers who were operating in southern Lebanon on Thursday.

UNIFIL said that its observers and Lebanese troops were providing security for “civilian workers” in the village of Maroun al-Ras who were trying to clear the ruins of homes destroyed during the war when they heard a grenade explode some 500 meters away. Observer forces subsequently saw a drone followed by an explosion just a few dozen meters away, and later another group witnessed a grenade dropped from a drone which exploded a few meters above their heads, UNIFIL said.

No injuries were caused in the incident.

In response to a query by The Times of Israel, the IDF says it had “acted to distance an engineering vehicle that was working to restore Hezbollah’s military infrastructure in the Maroun al-Ras area” by dropping grenades from a drone on Thursday.

The army says it is operating against attempts by Hezbollah to rebuild military infrastructure, “which constitute a violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon,” while also “clearly distinguishing” Hezbollah’s actions from those of UNIFIL and the Lebanese Armed Forces.

“A report was received from UNIFIL, through the military liaison channel, claiming that the grenades were dropped at a distance smaller than the accepted safety range from a joint UNIFIL and Lebanese army activity in the area,” the military says.

“An initial examination indicates that this claim is not known [to the IDF], but the incident is under investigation,” it adds.