‘This is likely one of the most severe assaults on UNIFIL personnel and belongings’ since November ceasefire, UNIFIL says.
Printed On 3 Sep 2025
The United Nations Interim Power in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has stated Israeli drones dropped 4 grenades near peacekeepers working to clear roadblocks, which have been hindering entry to a UN place, on Tuesday morning close to the southern Lebanese border with Israel.
“This is likely one of the most severe assaults on UNIFIL personnel and belongings for the reason that cessation of hostilities settlement of final November,” the UNIFIL stated in a press release on Wednesday.
“One grenade impacted inside 20 metres and three inside roughly 100 metres of UN personnel and autos.”
Israel has been violating the November 2024 ceasefire it reached with Hezbollah, finishing up near-daily assaults on Lebanon, claiming to focus on Hezbollah websites and members, but additionally killing massive numbers of civilians, displacing communities and destroying infrastructure and residential buildings.
UNIFIL says the Israeli military was knowledgeable upfront of its highway clearance work within the space, southeast of the village of Marwahin.
“Any actions endangering UN peacekeepers and belongings, and interference with their mandated duties are unacceptable and a severe violation of Decision 1701 and worldwide legislation,” UNIFIL stated, referring to the decision adopted on the finish of the 2006 conflict to cease hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah.
Established in 1978, UNIFIL patrols Lebanon’s southern border with Israel.
Final week, the United Nations Safety Council unanimously prolonged the peacekeeping mission in Lebanon till the top of 2026, after which a yearlong orderly and protected drawdown and withdrawal will begin.
The winding down of UNIFIL has been pushed closely by Israel and the USA, who accuse the group of offering political cowl for Hezbollah for the reason that 2006 conflict and failing to work to disarm Hezbollah, regardless of that not being the UN physique’s said mission.
In the meantime, Israel continues to occupy a minimum of 5 factors on Lebanese territory, following its invasion of south Lebanon final October. The ceasefire settlement reached in November stipulated that Israeli troops ought to withdraw from south Lebanon, however that has not but occurred.
Hezbollah Secretary-Common Naim Qassem has rejected rising strain to disarm the group, warning that Lebanon’s sovereignty might solely be achieved by ending Israeli “aggression”.
Qassem stated final month the Lebanese authorities should first guarantee Israel complies with a November 2024 ceasefire settlement earlier than talks on a nationwide defence technique can happen.
“The resistance will stay as a robust barrier stopping Israel from attaining its targets, and Israel will be unable to stay in Lebanon or obtain its expansionist venture by way of Lebanon,” the Hezbollah chief stated.
He dismissed Lebanese authorities and overseas proposals to combine Hezbollah’s arsenal right into a nationwide defence technique, insisting that Israel should first withdraw from Lebanese territory, launch prisoners, and halt assaults.
