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The United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon said one of its patrols came under fire in the south of the country on Tuesday, without saying who was responsible.
The force, known as UNIFIL, said the patrol “was fired upon with about a dozen rounds” near Wadi Jilu and returned fire, after which the shooting stopped. It reported no casualties and called for an investigation.
“We reiterate the obligation under international law for all actors to ensure the safety and security of UN personnel and property at all times,” the force said.
The incident comes as UNIFIL’s mandate in Lebanon nears its expiry at the end of this year. Under pressure from the United States, the UN Security Council voted last year to end the mission on December 31, 2026. Lebanese officials have called for it to be extended.
UNIFIL, which numbers around 7,500 personnel from nearly 50 countries, has served as a buffer between Israel and Lebanon since 1978. Its presence has been unable to prevent several rounds of conflict between the two sides.
The latest round, between Israel and the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah, broke out in March amid the wider Middle East war. A patchy ceasefire is in place, and Israel and Lebanon have held recent direct talks.
Hezbollah still refuses to disarm, however, and Israeli troops continue to occupy parts of the south.
Foreign ministers of the Group of Seven (G7) leading industrialized democracies met in Paris on Tuesday and agreed on “the need to avoid a security void” in Lebanon after UNIFIL withdraws, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said.
Barrot acknowledged, though, that there had been no breakthrough on what should replace the force.
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