UNIFIL says peacekeepers fired at 40 times during patrol of southern Lebanon

A group of UNIFIL peacekeepers were fired at while conducting a patrol of villages in southern Lebanon, the organization said in a statement Sunday.

The peacekeepers, who were French and Finnish, initially had their path blocked by a group of people, one of whom was armed. The patrol group moved around the obstruction and continued along their pre-planned route. 

Nearly an hour later, the patrol was fired upon about 40 times from behind after the peacekeepers had just entered the village of Marrakech. Although UNIFIL said the gunfire was likely from non-state actors, there are many past instances where Hezbollah has fired on or killed UNIFIL peacekeepers – one of the main reasons UNIFIL failed to keep the terror group out of southern Lebanon for the last 17 years.

Even in the event that those firing on UNIFIL were not Hezbollah, they would be Hezbollah and Iran-affiliated militias, such as from Iraq and Yemen.

The UNIFIL patrol quickly left the area while staying on their route and got safely to the UNIFIL base in Deir Kifa. UNIFIL immediately informed the Lebanese Armed Forces about the incident, according to the statement.

No peacekeepers were injured, though some of the vehicles had bullet impacts. 

'A flagrant violation of resolution 1701'

UNIFIL said that all parties engaging in "hostilities" across the blue line must "respect the inviolability of UN personnel and premises."

UNIFIL called the incident "a flagrant violation of international laws and resolution 1701" and said it was "yet another stark reminder about the dangerous situation under which the peacekeepers operate daily in south Lebanon."

UNIFIL added that it is investigating the incident and that its peacekeepers will continue to monitor and report all violations of resolution 1701.