Beirut, October 27, 2025 — The United Nations and France have strongly condemned Israel after an attack on UN peacekeeping troops (UNIFIL) in southern Lebanon, calling the incident a dangerous escalation along one of the region’s most volatile borders.
According to UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, Sunday’s assault involved an Israeli drone dropping a grenade near a UN patrol and an Israeli tank firing on peacekeepers close to the border town of Kfar Kila. No casualties were reported, but the UN described the incident as “very, very dangerous.”
“This is not the first time we have been targeted,” Dujarric said. “Our colleagues at UNIFIL have protested vehemently to the Israeli military over these attacks.”
France and UN Denounce Israeli Fire
The French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs echoed the UN’s condemnation, calling out “the Israeli fire that targeted a UNIFIL detachment” and noting that the October 26 assault followed similar incidents earlier this month on October 1, 2, and 11.
France emphasized that the repeated targeting of peacekeepers undermines regional stability and violates international humanitarian law. Paris urged Israel to respect the 2024 ceasefire agreement that ended large-scale hostilities with the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah.
Ceasefire Under Threat
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) operates alongside the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) to uphold the fragile truce between Israel and Hezbollah. However, Israeli forces have violated the ceasefire on an almost daily basis, according to UN reports.
On Sunday, UNIFIL reported that an Israeli drone flew aggressively over its patrol, prompting peacekeepers to activate defensive countermeasures to neutralize the device. While no injuries were sustained, UN officials warned that such provocations risk sparking a wider confrontation.
Israel still occupies five positions in southern Lebanon despite the ceasefire, a lingering point of tension that has fueled periodic border clashes and air raids.
Civilian Casualties in Southern Lebanon
The Lebanese National News Agency (ANI) reported that two brothers were killed on Monday after an Israeli airstrike hit a sawmill in the village of al-Bayyad in the Tyre district. A day earlier, three additional civilians were killed in Israeli raids on southern and eastern Lebanon.
The Israeli military said its strikes were aimed at Hezbollah fighters and infrastructure, claiming to have eliminated an arms dealer affiliated with the group. However, Lebanese officials accused Israel of targeting civilian reconstruction equipment such as bulldozers and diggers, in what they see as a deliberate effort to hinder Lebanon’s post-war recovery.
Hezbollah’s Response and Regional Tensions
Hezbollah, weakened by months of Israeli airstrikes, vowed to defend Lebanese sovereignty. Deputy leader Naim Qassem warned that while a full-scale war “depends on their [Israel’s] calculations,” the group remains ready for confrontation if attacked again.
The United States has been pressuring Lebanon to integrate Hezbollah’s weapons under the control of the national army. US Middle East envoy Morgan Ortagus arrived in Beirut late Monday to meet with Lebanese leaders, aiming to de-escalate tensions and reinforce Washington’s stance that Hezbollah must disarm.
Rising Risk of Broader Conflict
The latest attacks come amid mounting fears of a wider regional war, as Israeli operations in Lebanon continue alongside ongoing military activity in Gaza and Syria. Analysts warn that continued Israeli provocations could collapse the fragile ceasefire and draw international peacekeepers into direct conflict.
“When peacekeepers are attacked, international law is at risk,” said one UN security analyst in Beirut. “Israel’s actions threaten not just Lebanon’s stability but also the credibility of peacekeeping efforts across the Middle East.”
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