All articles tagged with #unifil
BBC reporting from southern Lebanon shows Israel widening its presence—adding new bases and fortified positions up to about 10km from the border—while UNIFIL monitors the area amid village destruction, displacement, and diplomatic stalemate over a broader withdrawal and the fate of “pilot zones,” with tensions influenced by Hezbollah and looming Israeli elections.
Live updates show a deepening US-Iran standoff and regional volatility: Trump says there are no talks with Iran and that the naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz remains in full force, while Kushner says the US will be very patient with the regime; reports note UAE air defenses activated over missile threats, Israel strikes Hamas targets in Gaza, Iran signals a hardened posture and seeks concessions, Lebanon discusses extending UNIFIL’s mandate, and a vessel was struck in Hormuz as tensions rise.
Hezbollah fired mortars at a UNIFIL position in southern Lebanon, hitting a base in the Dibbine area and killing a Serbian peacekeeper with two others injured; the IDF says the attack was by Hezbollah, and UNIFIL is investigating while urging protection of personnel under international law.
UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon report escalating Hezbollah-Israel clashes and drone activity near UN positions, as regional fighting intensifies. Separately, Iran-U.S.-Israel hostilities coincide with a jump in U.S. wholesale prices driven by energy costs from the war. Iran outlines preconditions for talks as President Trump arrives in Beijing to meet Xi, with mediation efforts led by Pakistan and discussion of a multinational mission to secure the Strait of Hormuz, which Australia plans to join. The ceasefire remains fragile amid continued strikes and cross-border incidents in Lebanon and around Hormuz.
Lebanese Christians in Debel celebrated the installation of a new crucifix donated by Italian UNIFIL troops after an Israeli soldier damaged the original statue, an act that drew global condemnation. The ceremony, attended by the papal nuncio, came amid ongoing conflict in southern Lebanon and ceasefire talks, with Italian Prime Minister Meloni praising the UN contingent. Two Israeli soldiers were placed in military detention for 30 days over the desecration.
In Debel, southern Lebanon, residents with help from an Italian UNIFIL battalion replaced a statue of Jesus that the IDF had provided after an Israeli soldier smashed the previous one, using a replica identical to the damaged statue; the IDF opened an investigation, removed the soldier who destroyed the statue and the one who photographed it from combat and sentenced them to 30 days in prison, summoned six additional soldiers for talks, and expressed regret, stressing its Lebanon operations target Hezbollah rather than Lebanese civilians and pledging to aid the village in the replacement.
France confirms the death of Sgt. Maj. Florian Montorio in a southern Lebanon ambush blamed on Hezbollah, as UNIFIL and IDF actions test a 10-day ceasefire and Iran-backed influence looms; an IDF reservist was also killed and nine soldiers wounded the same day.
The UN Secretary-General condemned a deadly attack on a UNIFIL patrol in southern Lebanon, where one peacekeeper was killed and three others injured while clearing ordnance near Ghanduriyah. Initial assessments point to non-state actors, with Hezbollah mentioned as alleged perpetrators. Guterres urged adherence to the ceasefire and international law, noted that attacks on peacekeepers may amount to war crimes, and UNIFIL launched an investigation while calling on Lebanon to hold those responsible to account.
A French UN peacekeeper was killed and three others wounded when a UNIFIL patrol in southern Lebanon was fired upon in what officials described as a deliberate attack; France blames Hezbollah, which denies involvement, amid heightened tensions and a 10-day Israel-Lebanon ceasefire.
Iran reasserts strict control of the Strait of Hormuz as the US warns Tehran not to blackmail it, signaling possible progress on talks while ships face attacks and UKMTO alerts keep coming; in Lebanon, a French UN peacekeeper was killed and Hezbollah is blamed, with Israel conducting strikes during a fragile ceasefire.
A U.N. peacekeeper was killed and three others were wounded when a UNIFIL patrol clearing ordnance in southern Lebanon came under small-arms fire, underscoring the fragility of a recently underway 10-day ceasefire. French and Lebanese leaders urged a full investigation and accountability, while Israel conducted strikes in Lebanon and Hezbollah warned against similar incursions, signaling heightened tensions around the truce.
Tensions mount as Iran reasserts control of the Strait of Hormuz amid a US blockade, with Trump warning Tehran against blackmail and Iran saying it is considering US proposals but will maintain control of Hormuz until the war ends; UKMTO reports attacks and suspicious activity near Hormuz and CENTCOM says 23 ships have complied with the blockade. In Lebanon, UN peacekeepers were attacked and a French soldier was killed, with Macron blaming Hezbollah, who deny involvement; Israel confirms strikes in southern Lebanon; Iran’s leadership signals readiness amid rising military rhetoric as negotiations continue and markets watch for potential war bets.
A U.N. internal report shows a sharp rise in aggressive actions against UNIFIL peacekeepers in southern Lebanon in 2025, including drone-dropped grenades, machine-gun fire, and direct fire, with incidents concentrated near the Blue Line and some UN vehicles damaged. Israel says it is acting to dismantle Hezbollah and operates within accepted frameworks, while UNIFIL notes the majority of attacks do not cause injuries but impede operations. With UNIFIL's mandate due to end in 2026, the future of the border force remains uncertain.
The Israeli military launched strikes across southern Lebanon targeting Hezbollah, claiming to destroy weapons storage and prevent rearmament, while Lebanon and the UN condemned the attacks as violations of international law and threats to civilians amid ongoing tensions following recent conflicts and a fragile ceasefire.
Conflicting reports emerged after UN peacekeepers shot down an Israeli drone over southern Lebanon, with Israel claiming it was conducting routine reconnaissance and UNIFIL stating the drone acted aggressively, amid ongoing tensions and Israeli strikes in the region.