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French peacekeeper dies in targeted attack
A United Nations patrol in southern Lebanon was ambushed on Sunday, killing one French peacekeeper and wounding three others. The incident occurred near the village of Ghanduriyah, where the team was clearing explosives to restore access to an isolated UN position.
Officials blame Hezbollah
French President Emmanuel Macron directly attributed the attack to Hezbollah, stating, "Everything suggests responsibility lies with Hezbollah." France has demanded Lebanese authorities arrest those responsible and collaborate with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil).
Hezbollah denied involvement in a statement, calling the accusations "rushed and baseless" and urging caution until the Lebanese army completes its investigation.
Timeline of the attack
The patrol came under small-arms fire at close range while attempting to reopen a road to a UN outpost. France's Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin reported the peacekeeper was struck by a direct shot and died despite efforts to evacuate him. The two seriously injured soldiers were also French.
A UN spokesperson condemned the attack, noting an initial Unifil assessment suggested "non-state actors"-presumed to be Hezbollah-were responsible. The spokesperson reiterated calls for all parties to respect the recent ceasefire.
Broader tensions in the region
The attack follows weeks of escalating violence between Hezbollah and Israel, which erupted on March 2. A 10-day ceasefire brokered by the U.S. took effect on April 16, but risks remain high for UN personnel operating in the area.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the attack in a call with Macron, pledging to bring those responsible to justice. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has ordered a full investigation. The Lebanese Armed Forces confirmed it was coordinating with Unifil during what it described as a "sensitive phase" in southern Lebanon.
UN warns of war crimes
Unifil emphasized that deliberate attacks on peacekeepers violate international humanitarian law and could constitute war crimes. The mission, established in 1978 after Israel's invasion of southern Lebanon, has seen over 330 fatalities since its inception.
Recent weeks have been particularly deadly: three Indonesian peacekeepers were killed in late March-two in an explosion and one in a projectile strike. Unifil's mandate, expanded after the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war, includes monitoring the Blue Line ceasefire in coordination with the Lebanese army.
Ceasefire under strain
The U.S., which announced the April 16 truce, has urged Hezbollah to adhere to its terms. However, the attack on the UN patrol underscores the fragility of the situation. Hezbollah called for continued coordination between Unifil, the Lebanese army, and local communities to navigate the "delicate circumstances."
