Four United Nations military observers were injured on Saturday in southern Lebanon while on patrol near the border. The observers are part of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization, which supports the U.N. peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon, UNIFIL.
Reports from local Lebanese media, citing security officials, suggested that an Israeli drone strike targeted the observers in the village of Wadi Katmoun near the town of Rmeich. The drone strike wounded three officers from Australia, Chile, and Norway, as well as a Lebanese interpreter.
The Israeli military denied the reports, stating on social media that they did not strike a UNIFIL vehicle in the area of Rmeish.
UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti stated that an investigation is ongoing to determine the source of the explosion. Tenenti emphasized that targeting peacekeepers is unacceptable and called for a halt to the current exchanges of fire to prevent further casualties.
Recent weeks have seen escalating clashes between the Israeli military and Hezbollah militants. The conflict intensified following the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, raising concerns that the border skirmishes could escalate into a full-scale war. The violence has led to the displacement of tens of thousands of people.
According to reports, the fighting has resulted in the deaths of nine civilians and 11 soldiers in Israel, while over 240 Hezbollah fighters and approximately 50 civilians have been killed in Lebanon.
UNIFIL was established to oversee the withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon after the 1978 invasion. The U.N. expanded the mission after the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah, allowing peacekeepers to patrol the Israeli border and assist the Lebanese military in extending its authority in the region.
