Israel confirms attacking UN peacekeepers in Lebanon, citing ‘misclassification’ amid poor weather
Jerusalem – On Nov 17 the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it fired warning shots at two U.N. peacekeepers near the Al‑Hamames area in southern Lebanon. The IDF blamed the shots on a misidentification caused by poor weather.
After the firing, Israeli troops withdrew and later confirmed that the two people were UN peacekeepers from UNIFIL. The IDF added that it did not aim directly at the U.N. soldiers and that it is now working through official liaison channels to resolve the incident. The forces also said they would keep operations in the area to eliminate any threat to Israel.
UNIFIL reported that the shots came from a Merkava tank on an Israeli post. Heavy machine‑gun rounds landed about five metres from the peacekeepers. The U.N. soldiers took cover, contacted Israeli commanders via the UN liaison, and stopped the firing. They withdrew safely half an hour later. Nobody was hurt.
UNIFIL called the attack a “serious violation” of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended fighting after the Gaza war in October 2023. The U.N. force urged Israeli troops to stop any aggressive actions toward U.N. personnel. UNIFIL said it remains committed to restoring stability in the region.
This incident follows several earlier skirmishes on the Lebanon‑Israel border. Even after the ceasefire with Hezbollah, Israel has launched border strikes, citing threats from the Lebanese group, and has kept positions past the February 18 withdrawal deadline. The conflict continues to raise concerns for U.N. peacekeepers and the broader region.
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