French peacekeepers with UN forces in Lebanon targeted by Israeli army over weekend: Report

ISTANBUL

The French contingent of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) was reportedly targeted three times by the Israeli army in southern Lebanon over the weekend, broadcaster BFM TV revealed early Tuesday.

Three incidents between the Israeli army and the French UNIFIL contingent that took place Saturday in the southern Naqoura area reportedly caused no injuries.

On Saturday morning, Israeli soldiers stationed north of Naqoura allegedly aimed their weapons at UNIFIL Chief of Staff General Paul Sanzey and his aide as they were returning from Beirut. They were ordered to leave the area, but both French officers were able to continue their journey to Naqoura.

Later in the day, the Israeli army reportedly opened fire on a logistics convoy on a supply mission, which included French troops.

Finally, in the late afternoon, the commander of the Force Commander Reserve—a rapid reaction unit under the direct command of the UNIFIL chief, staffed by a Franco-Finnish battalion—was targeted by fire from an Israeli tank.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot condemned the incidents late Monday in a post on US social media company X.

"These security breaches and intimidations by Israeli army personnel against UN staff are unacceptable and unjustifiable, particularly as deconfliction procedures had been respected. These condemnations were conveyed in the strongest terms to the Israeli ambassador in Paris," he said.

Israel has pounded Lebanon with airstrikes and launched a ground offensive in the south since a cross-border attack by Hezbollah on March 2. The region has been on alert since the US and Israel launched an air offensive on Iran on Feb. 28, killing more than 1,340 people so far, including then-Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Tehran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets, causing casualties and infrastructure damage while disrupting global markets and aviation.