UN Peacekeeper Killed, Three Injured in Southern Lebanon Attack

A United Nations peacekeeper has been killed and three others injured after a patrol of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) came under fire in southern Lebanon on Saturday, the mission confirmed.

The incident occurred during a routine patrol in the area between the towns of Alma al-Shaeb and Kafr Kila, near the Blue Line that separates Lebanon and Israel, according to a statement released by UNIFIL.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres strongly condemned the attack, calling it a “heinous act” and demanding a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting.

The Secretary-General reiterated that attacks on UN peacekeepers constitute a serious violation of international law and urged all parties to respect the safety and security of personnel serving under the UN flag.

The injured peacekeepers were evacuated for medical treatment, with UNIFIL confirming their conditions are stable and they are receiving appropriate care.

UNIFIL said it remains fully operational and continues to carry out its mandate of monitoring the cessation of hostilities, supporting the Lebanese Armed Forces, and ensuring humanitarian access in southern Lebanon.

The mission added that it is coordinating closely with the Lebanese authorities to identify those responsible for the attack and to prevent further incidents.

This latest violence marks another escalation in a period of heightened tension along the Israel-Lebanon border, where exchanges of fire have occurred frequently in recent months amid broader regional instability.

UNIFIL, established in 1978 and significantly expanded after the 2006 Lebanon War, currently deploys over 10,000 personnel from more than 50 countries to maintain stability in the region.

The United Nations has called for restraint and de-escalation, emphasizing that the safety of peacekeepers must be upheld as they carry out their duties in one of the world’s most fragile security environments.