UNIFIL: Israeli Drone Threatens Peacekeepers, Violates Lebanon Border

UNIFIL Reports Israeli Drone Activity, Grenade Incident Near Southern Lebanon Border

February 3, 2026 – UNIFIL, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, reported on Tuesday that its forces engaged in a defensive action after being directly threatened by an Israeli drone that crossed the Blue Line, the border demarcation between Lebanon and Israel.

According to a statement released by UNIFIL, peacekeepers during a routine patrol near the town of Kfarkila in the Marjeyoun district, observed two drones flying overhead in what was described as a hostile manner. One of the drones was carrying an unidentified object and entered an area that posed a direct threat to the safety of the soldiers.

The soldiers, acting in accordance with established procedures, took a defensive action to address the threat, the nature of which was not specified in the statement.

Following this, the Israeli drone reportedly dropped a sound grenade which exploded approximately fifty meters from the patrol. The drone then returned towards Israeli territory. UNIFIL confirmed that no soldiers were injured during the incident.

UNIFIL stated that it has informed both the Lebanese Army and the Israeli Army about the activity, as it does with all incidents occurring in sensitive areas near the Blue Line.

The UN force affirmed that, based on available information, the drone belonged to the Israeli Army and had crossed the Blue Line, constituting a clear violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701. UNIFIL emphasized that the use of an armed drone in this manner is unacceptable.

This action, UNIFIL added, represents a violation of international law and Resolution 1701, hinders the tasks assigned to UNIFIL peacekeepers and endangers efforts to restore stability along the Blue Line.

The Blue Line was established by the United Nations in 2000 to confirm the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon. UNIFIL oversees monitoring compliance with the line under the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701, which was issued following the 2006 Lebanon War.

Border areas in southern Lebanon have seen frequent violations, including drone flights and aerial and ground incursions, which the United Nations says threaten the fragile stability of the region and increase the risk of military escalation.

In a separate incident, UNIFIL also reported that Israeli drones dropped grenades near peacekeepers in Lebanon, though details of this event were limited in available reports.

UNIFIL continues to affirm its support for stability in southern Lebanon despite these ongoing Israeli violations.