31/03/2026
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31/03/2026
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UNITED NATIONS, Mar 31: International officials have condemned the killing of three United Nations peacekeepers in southern Lebanon as investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding the incidents.
The U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon said Israel can confirm that United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) personnel were struck by explosive devices allegedly linked to Hezbollah in an incident near Bani Ayan in southern Lebanon. He expressed condolences to the families of the victims but did not provide further details, noting that two peacekeepers were killed in a separate incident and a third was killed on Sunday.
Danon accused Hezbollah of operating from civilian infrastructure near U.N. positions and violating United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, which calls for the group’s disarmament and the deployment of Lebanese forces throughout the country. He also criticized the Lebanese government for failing to fully implement the resolution.
The Lebanese government has expressed condolences over the deaths of the Indonesian peacekeepers, while neither it nor Hezbollah has responded to the allegations.
At an emergency session of the United Nations Security Council, member states condemned the recent incidents, describing them as part of a troubling pattern of attacks on peacekeepers carrying out their mandate.
U.N. peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix said there has been a “worrying increase” in aggressive behavior and restrictions on UNIFIL movements, including incidents involving warning shots and small arms fire during patrols.
He added that investigations are ongoing and that responsibility for the deaths has not yet been established. Several countries, including France, Italy, and Turkey, have also expressed concern and condemned attacks on U.N. personnel.
