In southern Lebanon, yesterday a Merkava tank shelling UN Interposition Force positions in Lebanon (UNIFILE), destroyed surveillance cameras and damaged observation towers, while peacekeepers took cover several meters from the attack. The incident, condemned by the UN mission, was immediately linked by Israeli forces to “bad weather conditions», indicated as the cause of misidentification. However, the justification did not reassure peacekeepers, who spoke of clear fire direction and actions that once again endangered their security in a region already marked by escalation and violations for months.
According to the version given by UNIFIL in a note, the shots were fired from an Israeli position facing directly towards the UN observatory in the southern sector of Spain near Khiuam. Heavy machine gun bullets hit a five meters from the stationforcing personnel to take cover. UN forces asked the IDF to cease fire and managed to withdraw safely after about half an hour, when the tanks pulled away. There were no injuries, but the gesture symbolized a serious violation about the rules of engagement and resolution 1701 The Security Council, the basis of the fragile balance that regulates the demarcation lines. Israeli forces confirmed the presence of the tank and the firing, claiming that visibility was compromised by the attack bad weather. The unit apparently mistook the UN tower for a suspicious outpost, and reacted in a “defensive” manner, after seeing two “suspicious” individuals in the Hammis area. UNIFIL refutes this version, highlighting how the position is clearly marked and visible even inside bad weather conditions. The mission therefore called for a thorough investigation, and reiterated the need for Israel to respect its responsibilities regarding the safety of peacekeepers.
This new incident immediately sparked international concern, fueling fears that the situation along the border could further escalate. For weeks, the region has been the scene of artillery fire, targeted bombings and increasingly aggressive surveillance operations. Added to this are the operational difficulties of UNIFIL, which was called in to oversee a ceasefire that now appears to be only formal. Just days ago, Beirut publicly condemned Israel’s violations stability in the southern part of the country is threatened. Permanent Representative of Lebanon to the United Nations, Ahmad Arafareiterated that such actions undermine Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and undermine the work of national authorities seeking to expand state control and reduce the influence of militias. The Lebanese army’s report, submitted to the government, condemned this more than 7,000 airspace violations since the ceasefire the previous year and defined the attack as a “clear violation of international law”.
Since the regional crisis returned in the fall of 2023, UNIFIL has reported several similar incidents. During 2024, there will be several cases direct fire on UN patrols and basesincluding wounds from shells fired by Israeli tanks near Naqoura. In 2025, the situation worsened: Israeli drones dropped ammunition near peacekeeping forces, while artillery and armored vehicles repeatedly hit areas where international observers were operating. In all cases, Israel spoke of errors of judgment or unfavorable environmental conditions, justifications that were deemed insufficient and not very credible by the UN mission. Statistics accumulated over the last two years show a violations continue to increase and progressive narrowing of UNIFIL’s operational space. On November 14, the missions announced that they had been carried out geospatial survey which identifies a concrete walls erected by the IDF in the Yaroun area. Investigation confirmed that the structure crossing the Blue Linetook over an area of 4,000 square meters from Lebanon. Despite requests from the UN, Israel continued building the wall in November, with new sections encroaching on Lebanese territory. Yesterday’s new episode is part of a series of attacks and violations that, coupled with military pressure along the border, risks jeopardizing the role of UN forces on one of the most unstable fronts in the Middle East.
