The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has said that Israeli soldiers shot at its peacekeepers this morning from a tank near an army position in the country’s south.<\/p>\n
UNIFIL has been working with the Lebanese army to consolidate a truce between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah reached last November.<\/p>\n
“This morning, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) fired on UNIFIL peacekeepers from a Merkava tank from near a position Israel has established in Lebanese territory,” the peacekeepers said in a statement.<\/p>\n
UNIFIL added that heavy machine gun rounds hit about five metres from their personnel.<\/p>\n
The force said the peacekeepers were able to “leave safely 30 minutes later” after the tank withdrew inside the Israeli position.<\/p>\n
This morning, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) fired on UNIFIL peacekeepers from a Merkava tank from near a position Israel has established in Lebanese territory.<\/p>\n
\u2014 UNIFIL (@UNIFIL_) November 16, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n UNIFIL said the shooting “represents a serious violation of UN Security Council resolution 1701”, which ended a 2006 conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, and also formed the basis of last November’s truce.<\/p>\n A spokesperson for the Irish Defence Forces said “no Irish personnel were involved in this incident”.<\/p>\n Israel’s military said it had not intended to shoot towards United Nations peacekeepers in southern Lebanon, saying its forces mistook them for “suspects” and fired warning shots.<\/p>\n “After a review, it was determined that the suspects were UN soldiers who were conducting a patrol in the area and were classified as suspects due to poor weather conditions,” the Israel Defense Forces said in a statement, adding: “No deliberate fire was directed toward UNIFIL soldiers”.<\/p>\n That ceasefire sought to end more than a year of hostilities between the parties that broke out after the start of the Gaza war.<\/p>\n Under the deal, Israel was to withdraw its forces from south Lebanon, but it has kept them at five areas it deems strategic.<\/p>\n It has also kept up regular strikes on Lebanon, mainly saying it is targeting Hezbollah sites and operatives.<\/p>\n This morning’s incident was not the first in which UNIFIL accused Israel of endangering its peacekeepers.<\/p>\n “Yet again, we call on the IDF to cease any aggressive behavior and attacks on or near peacekeepers,” the force said.<\/p>\n I am deeply concerned by today’s incident in Southern Lebanon in which UN Peacekeepers came under fire.<\/p>\n I have been briefed on the matter by the Chief of Staff of @defenceforces<\/a> & am assured that no \ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddea personnel were involved in the incident.<\/p>\n \u2014 Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) November 16, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Read more:<\/p>\n