French peacekeeper killed in southern Lebanon

A French peacekeeper was killed and three others wounded after a UN patrol came under fire in southern Lebanon, in what officials said was a deliberate attack.

The soldier was serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which confirmed that one peacekeeper died and three others were injured, two seriously, when their patrol came under small arms fire.

French President Emmanuel Macron blamed Hezbollah for the attack. The Iran-backed armed group denied “any link” with the incident.

This comes amid heightened tensions in southern Lebanon, where peacekeepers face increasing risks since fighting between Hezbollah and Israel resumed on March 2.

A 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon took effect on April 16. The United States, which announced the deal, urged Hezbollah to respect its terms.

“Everything suggests that responsibility for this attack lies with Hezbollah,” Macron said.

“France demands that the Lebanese authorities immediately arrest the perpetrators and take responsibility alongside UNIFIL.”

French Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin said the blue helmet was part of a mission to reopen access to a UNIFIL position cut off by recent fighting when it was “ambushed by an armed group at very close range.”

Vautrin added that he had been “hit immediately by direct fire from a light weapon” and that he had been pulled away by his comrades, unable to resuscitate him.

A spokesperson for UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the attack, adding that an initial assessment by Unifil suggested the team had been targeted by “non-state actors”, which they presumed to be Hezbollah.

The spokesperson calls on all parties to “respect the cessation of hostilities and the ceasefire”.

Finil said the patrol cleared explosive ordnance along a road in Ghanduriyah village to reconnect isolated positions.

The Lebanese army said the incident followed exchanges of fire with armed individuals, adding that it was coordinating closely with UNIFIL during what it described as a sensitive phase in southern Lebanon.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the attack and told Macron in a phone call that those responsible would be brought to justice.

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam also ordered an investigation.

Hezbollah issued a statement on Saturday denying responsibility, calling them “hasty” and “baseless” accusations.

He called for “caution in judgments and attribution of responsibilities regarding the incident, pending the investigation by the Lebanese army aimed at determining all the circumstances.”

The group urged UNIFIL and the Lebanese army to continue to coordinate their maneuvers with local populations “in these delicate circumstances.”

In late March, three Indonesian peacekeepers were killed in separate incidents: an explosion that destroyed a UNIFIL vehicle and a projectile strike the day before.

Finil warned that under international law “all actors” were required to ensure the “safety and security” of UN personnel, adding that “deliberate attacks” on peacekeepers constituted “serious violations” of international humanitarian law and could amount to war crimes.

The peacekeeping force was established in 1978 by the UN Security Council following Israel’s invasion of southern Lebanon, with a mandate to confirm the Israeli withdrawal, restore peace and help the Lebanese government regain its authority in the south.

Its role expanded after the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah, when Security Council Resolution 1701 strengthened its responsibilities in monitoring the ceasefire along the Blue Line – the de facto border between Lebanon and Israel – in coordination with the Lebanese army.

More than 330 peacekeepers have been killed since the creation of the mission.