BEIRUT (AP) — A U.N. peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon was attacked with small arms fire on Saturday morning, resulting in one French peacekeeper’s death and three others wounded, with two of them seriously injured, according to France’s president and the UNIFIL force. Both President Emmanuel Macron and UNIFIL attributed the attack to Hezbollah, although the Lebanese militant group denied any involvement.
The incident occurred near the southern Lebanese village of Ghandouriyeh, shortly after a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah took effect at midnight Thursday. The current Israel-Hezbollah conflict, which began on March 2, escalated when the Iran-backed group fired rockets into Israel after joint U.S. and Israeli attacks targeted Iranian officials.
This conflict has resulted in around 2,300 deaths in Lebanon, displacing over 1 million people and causing significant destruction. Macron expressed on social media that “all signs indicate Hezbollah’s responsibility for this attack” and urged Lebanese authorities to swiftly arrest those responsible and collaborate with UNIFIL.
Investigation Underway
In Beirut, three judicial officials disclosed that Lebanon’s Military Tribunal has initiated an investigation into the attack, coordinating with the army’s intelligence to identify the attackers. Hezbollah refuted claims of connection to the assault, emphasizing the need for caution in assigning blame until the Lebanese army completes its investigation.
Hezbollah expressed astonishment at the rapid accusations directed at it, especially given the lack of concern shown towards Israeli actions against UNIFIL forces. Macron identified the fallen soldier as Staff Sgt. Florian Montorio from the 17th Parachute Engineer Regiment, noting that three comrades were injured and evacuated.
Macron Calls for Action
Macron reached out to Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam to demand a thorough investigation and swift justice for the incident. Salam announced on X that he has directed an inquiry into the attack, with Aoun and Speaker Nabih Berri both condemning it. The Lebanese army reiterated its commitment to working closely with UNIFIL and detaining the attackers.
Earlier on Saturday, the Israeli military reported conducting aerial and ground strikes in southern Lebanon, citing incidents where militants allegedly violated the ceasefire by encroaching on Israeli troop areas. Notably, a “Yellow Line” was referenced, although it was not included in the ceasefire agreement initiated by U.S. President Donald Trump.
