Beirut, Lebanon| The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) announced Saturday the arrest of six individuals linked to a brazen daylight attack on a United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) patrol vehicle in the country’s volatile south, reinforcing the military’s commitment to protecting international peacekeepers operating along the tense Blue Line with Israel.
The incident occurred Friday afternoon on the rural Tiri–Bint Jbeil road, a key artery in the UNIFIL area of operations west of the Litani River.
According to military and UN sources, three assailants riding tandem on mopeds approached a clearly marked UNIFIL armored vehicle during a routine patrol and opened fire with small arms.
Multiple rounds struck the vehicle, causing visible damage to its bodywork and shattering at least one window. Miraculously, none of the peacekeepers inside were injured.
UNIFIL immediately condemned the attack as a “grave violation” of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which has governed the cessation of hostilities between Lebanon and Israel since the 2006 war and mandates the protection of peacekeepers.
In a statement released Saturday, UNIFIL described the incident as “a direct attack on men and women working to restore stability in south Lebanon” and welcomed the swift response by Lebanese security forces.
Lebanese military spokespersons confirmed that a joint intelligence and rapid-response operation, launched within hours of the shooting, led to the identification and arrest of all six suspects across several villages in the Bint Jbeil and Tyre districts.
While authorities have not publicly identified the detainees or disclosed possible motives, security sources speaking on background said the perpetrators are believed to be local residents with no immediate evidence of affiliation to major armed groups operating in the area.
In an unusually strong statement, the Lebanese Army declared “zero tolerance” for any assaults on UNIFIL personnel, emphasizing that such acts “undermine Lebanon’s sovereignty, harm its international standing, and jeopardize the fragile calm along the southern border.”
The military reiterated that protecting the 10,500-strong peacekeeping mission remains a national priority.
Timing and Broader Context
The arrests come at a particularly sensitive moment. A high-level UN Security Council delegation is scheduled to arrive in Lebanon next week for a firsthand assessment of security conditions in the south, where sporadic incidents—ranging from small-arms fire to anti-tank missile attacks—continue despite the November 2024 ceasefire that ended over a year of intense cross-border warfare between Israel and Hezbollah.
Although Friday’s attack did not result in casualties, it marks at least the fourth reported incident targeting UNIFIL personnel or positions since the ceasefire took effect.
Previous episodes have included warning shots, physical obstruction of patrols, and, in one case, the brief detention of peacekeepers by armed elements.
Israel has repeatedly accused UNIFIL of failing to prevent Hezbollah rearmament south of the Litani, while Lebanon and UN officials insist the peacekeepers operate under strict host-country consent and limited enforcement powers.
International Reaction
UN Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the arrests in a statement issued from New York, praising the “professionalism and determination” of the Lebanese Armed Forces.
Diplomatic sources indicate the Security Council delegation will now place special emphasis on measures to guarantee freedom of movement and safety for UNIFIL troops when it meets Lebanese political and military leaders in Beirut and visits patrol bases in the south.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of State, a major contributor to UNIFIL and supporter of the Lebanese Army, called the attack “unacceptable” and urged all parties to uphold Resolution 1701 in full.
As investigations continue, Lebanese authorities say the six suspects will face charges that could include attempted murder, illegal possession of weapons, and endangering international peacekeepers—offenses carrying severe penalties under Lebanese law.
This latest episode underscores the persistent fragility of the post-war calm in southern Lebanon and the delicate balancing act faced by both the Lebanese state and the international community in preserving stability along one of the Middle East’s most volatile frontiers.
The Lebanese Armed Forces have vowed to release further details as the probe progresses. This remains a developing story.
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