UN peacekeepers' patrol hit by Israeli army gunfire in southern Lebanon

By Mahmoud Barakat

ANKARA (AA) – A patrol of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) was hit by Israeli army gunfire on Saturday.

The attack took place near the Aytaroun village in southern Lebanon.

“No peacekeepers were injured, but the vehicle was damaged. This incident occurred during a period of relative calm along the Blue Line,” UNIFIL said on the social media platform X.

The Blue Line is the line set by the UN for the withdrawal of the Israeli forces from Lebanon in 2000.

“We condemn this act & underscore the parties' responsibility to safeguard peacekeepers, preventing unnecessary risks to those striving to establish stability,” the force said. “We strongly remind the parties of their obligations to protect peacekeepers and avoid putting the men and women who are working to restore stability at risk.”

Tensions have flared up along the border between Lebanon and Israel amid intermittent exchange of fire between Israeli forces and Hezbollah in the deadliest clashes since the two sides fought a full-scale war in 2006.

The border tension comes amid an Israeli military offensive in the Gaza Strip following a cross-border attack by Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7.

The four-day humanitarian pause between the Israeli army and Hamas came into effect on Friday morning in all areas of the Gaza Strip, temporarily stopping attacks for prisoner exchange and aid delivery.