The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said Wednesday that Israeli forces fired on peacekeepers patrolling the Blue Line in southern Lebanon, calling the incident a “serious violation” of UN Security Council Resolution 1701.
UNIFIL reported that a Merkava tank near the town of Sarda fired a 10‑round burst of machine‑gun fire over a convoy of peacekeepers, followed by four additional bursts nearby. Both the tank and the patrol were inside Lebanese territory at the time. No injuries were reported.
The peacekeepers immediately contacted the Israel Defense Forces through liaison channels to stop the firing. UNIFIL noted the IDF had been informed in advance of the patrol’s location and timing, in line with procedures for sensitive areas near the Blue Line.
“Attacks on or near peacekeepers constitute serious violations of Security Council resolution 1701,” UNIFIL said, urging the IDF to halt aggressive actions.