UN peacekeepers attacked, slapped by ‘civilians’ in south Lebanon

United Nations peacekeepers say rock-throwing individuals confronted them during a patrol on Tuesday in south Lebanon, calling repeated targeting of their troops “unacceptable.”

The UN Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL), deployed since 1978 to separate Lebanon and Israel, sits on a five-member committee to supervise the ceasefire between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah.

In a statement, UNIFIL says peacekeepers conducting “a planned patrol” coordinated with the Lebanese army were “confronted by a group of individuals in civilian clothing in the vicinity of Hallusiyat al-Tahta, in southern Lebanon.”

“The group attempted to obstruct the patrol using aggressive means, including throwing stones at the peacekeepers,” the statement read, adding that “one peacekeeper was struck,” but no injuries were reported.

The situation was defused when the Lebanese army intervened, allowing the peacekeeping force to continue its patrol.

“It is unacceptable that UNIFIL peacekeepers continue to be targeted,” the statement adds.

UNIFIL spokesman Andrea Tenenti tells AFP a Finnish soldier was slapped during the confrontation.

The slap that has become famous in #Lebanon: Earlier today, plain cloth #Hezbollah militants physically assaulted the UN “interim” since 1978 peace keeping force UNIFIL, blocking its inspection of a likely Hezbollah arms depot. UNIFIL costs $500 million a year, money’d be better… pic.twitter.com/XtvQo4n29W

— Hussain Abdul-Hussain (@hahussain) June 10, 2025

There have been several confrontations between people in southern Lebanon, where Hezbollah holds sway, and UN peacekeepers in recent weeks.