18/04/2026
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18/04/2026
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BEIRUT, Apr 18: A French peacekeeper was killed, and three others were wounded in an attack on a United Nations peacekeeping patrol in southern Lebanon, according to Emmanuel Macron and the UN mission.
The incident occurred Saturday morning near the village of Ghandouriyeh, where the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) reported that its personnel came under small arms fire. Two of the wounded are said to be in serious condition.
Macron confirmed that the soldier killed was a member of the French contingent serving with UNIFIL, adding that France is seeking accountability and urging Lebanese authorities to investigate the attack and arrest those responsible.
The attack comes shortly after a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah group took effect. The ceasefire has already been tested by rising tensions and security incidents across southern Lebanon.
In response, Hezbollah denied any involvement, calling for caution before assigning blame. The group urged that investigations be completed by the Lebanese army before conclusions are drawn, and said it was surprised by what it described as “hasty accusations.” Hezbollah also stated that coordination with the Lebanese armed forces should guide UNIFIL operations.
The incident has raised fresh concerns over the safety of international peacekeepers operating in the region amid a fragile security environment.
