BEIRUT/ANKARA

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Thursday condemned a recent Israeli attack on UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon as a “blatant defiance” of the international community.

In a statement released by the Lebanese presidency, Aoun said he had spoken by phone with UNIFIL Commander Gen. Diodato Abagnara to convey Lebanon’s “strong condemnation of this assault, the most serious since the ceasefire agreement of November last year.”

According to UNIFIL, Israeli drones struck a peacekeeping unit in the southern town of Marwahin on Wednesday, dropping four bombs in the most “dangerous attack” since the November ceasefire.

One bomb landed just 20 meters from UN personnel and vehicles, while three others fell roughly 100 meters away. The drones were seen retreating south across the Blue Line into Israeli territory.

The attack occurred less than a week after the UN Security Council unanimously extended UNIFIL’s mandate until the end of 2026.

Aoun said Israel’s actions “demonstrated a continued defiance of the international community,” which called for an end to hostilities against Lebanon, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from occupied Lebanese territory, the release of Lebanese prisoners, and the full implementation of Resolution 1701.

Adopted in 2006, the resolution calls for a permanent ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon, and the deployment of up to 15,000 UNIFIL troops to support the Lebanese army.

“The most dangerous aspect of this latest attack is that Israel was fully aware of UNIFIL’s operation to remove roadblocks along the Blue Line, meaning the targeting of international peacekeepers was deliberate and premeditated,” Aoun said.

He urged the international community to “hold Israel accountable for repeated violations of UN resolutions and the immunity granted to peacekeeping forces worldwide.”

“Israeli attacks on southern towns and villages continue daily, causing civilian casualties and damage to homes and infrastructure,” he added.

Israel launched a military offensive in Lebanon on Oct. 8, 2023, which escalated into a full-scale war by September 2024, killing more than 4,000 people and injuring around 17,000.

A ceasefire was reached in November, but Israeli forces have conducted near-daily attacks in southern Lebanon, claiming to target Hezbollah activities.

Under the truce, Israel was supposed to fully withdraw from southern Lebanon by Jan. 26, but the deadline was extended to Feb. 18 after Tel Aviv refused to comply. Israel still maintains a military presence at five border outposts.