UNIFIL Soldier Killed in Southern Lebanon Attack; Hezbollah Suspected
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) reported that a soldier was killed and three others were wounded after their convoy was fired upon in the Al-Ghandourieh area in southern Lebanon. According to UNIFIL, the condition of two of the injured is critical.
In a statement, UNIFIL indicated that preliminary assessments suggest the shooting was carried out by non-state actors, with Hezbollah suspected to be involved in the incident. UNIFIL has called on the Lebanese government to swiftly initiate an official investigation and identify those responsible for the attack.
French President Emmanuel Macron, noting that the soldier killed was a French national, asserted that evidence points to Hezbollah’s responsibility for the incident. He urged Lebanese authorities to arrest the culprits and assume responsibility for the security of UNIFIL forces.
France’s Minister of the Armed Forces stated that the French soldier was killed as a result of a close-range direct shooting in an ambush. Meanwhile, the Lebanese army confirmed the occurrence of clashes in the Al-Ghandourieh area, stating that several UNIFIL personnel were injured in an exchange of fire with armed militants, and that investigations to identify and apprehend the perpetrators are ongoing.
Lebanese President Michel Aoun sent condolences to his French counterpart over the death of the French soldier. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam strongly condemned the attack on UNIFIL forces and emphasized the immediate start of investigations and legal pursuit of those responsible.
