UNIFIL reports Israeli gunfire near its patrols in south Lebanon, one peacekeeper lightly injured

A French UN peacekeeper stands beside an armored vehicle at his base, waiting to move with his unit for a patrol along the Lebanese-Israeli border in Deir Kifa, southern Lebanon, August 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
A French UN peacekeeper stands beside an armored vehicle at his base, waiting to move with his unit for a patrol along the Lebanese-Israeli border in Deir Kifa, southern Lebanon, August 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

UN peacekeeping force UNIFIL says that Israeli gunfire near the Blue Line, separating Lebanon from Israel and the Golan Heights, lightly injured one of its personnel during two separate incidents in southern Lebanon earlier today.

According to UNIFIL, heavy machine-gun fire from IDF troops positioned south of the UN-mapped Blue Line struck close to a UNIFIL patrol inspecting a roadblock in the village of Bastarra, following a nearby grenade explosion.

While no UNIFIL equipment was damaged, the blast and gunfire left one peacekeeper suffering from a mild ear concussion.

In a separate incident in the southern village of Kfar Shouba, UNIFIL says another patrol conducting a routine operational task reported machine-gun fire from the Israeli side of the Blue Line in immediate proximity to its position.

UNIFIL says it had informed the IDF in advance of the patrols’ activities in both areas, “following usual practice for patrols in sensitive areas near the Blue Line.”

“Attacks on or near peacekeepers are serious violations of Security Council resolution 1701,” referring to the 2006 measure that called for an end to hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah following the Second Lebanon War.

The force urges the IDF “to cease aggressive behaviour and attacks on or near peacekeepers working for peace and stability along the Blue Line.”

The IDF does not immediately comment on the incidents.

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