HAMILTON, Canada

The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said its peacekeepers came under small arms and machine-gun fire near Kafer Shouba in southern Lebanon on Friday, confirming that the fire originated from Israeli positions south of the Blue Line.

"Earlier today, peacekeepers on patrol near Kafer Shouba reported fifteen rounds of small arms fire that struck no more than fifty meters away from them," UNIFIL said in a statement.

It added that "less than twenty minutes later, peacekeepers in a second patrol in the same area reported approximately 100 rounds of machine-gun fire struck approximately fifty meters from them."

While confirming that "there was no damage or injury in either case," UNIFIL also confirmed that the fire came from an Israeli military "position south of the Blue Line in both cases," adding that the mission sent a "stop fire" request through liaison channels.

The mission also stressed that it had coordinated the patrols in advance, saying: "UNIFIL had informed the IDF about the activities in those areas in advance, following usual practice for patrols in sensitive areas near the Blue Line."

"Incidents like these are happening on a too-regular basis, and becoming a concerning trend," UNIFIL said, reminding that "attacks on or near peacekeepers are serious violations of Security Council resolution 1701."

It further called on the Israeli army "to cease aggressive behavior and attacks on or near peacekeepers working for peace and stability along the Blue Line."

There was no comment from the Israeli army on the statement.

UN peacekeeping patrols in southern Lebanon are often subjected to violent Israeli actions, including laser targeting and warning shots, in what UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, previously called "extremely dangerous incidents."

A ceasefire has been in place in Lebanon since November 2024, after more than a year of attacks that killed more than 4,000 people and injured 17,000 others against the backdrop of Israel's war on Gaza.

At least 335 people have been killed and 973 others wounded in Israeli attacks since the ceasefire, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry.

The Israeli army was supposed to withdraw from southern Lebanon in January 2025 under the ceasefire, but instead only partially pulled out and continues to maintain a military presence at five border outposts.