UNIFIL Reports Israeli Tank Fire Near Lebanese Position, Israel Denies Intent

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) announced on Sunday that one of its units was fired upon by an Israeli Merkava tank while stationed near a site in Lebanese territory.

In an official statement, UNIFIL confirmed that the incident occurred in a sensitive border area and noted that no soldiers were injured. However, it deemed the event a serious violation of Security Council Resolution 1701, which governs the ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel.

The Israeli military stated that the fire was unintentional and that an internal investigation into the circumstances of the incident is underway. This mirrors their response to previous incidents, including one last September when Israeli drones dropped four bombs near UNIFIL forces, prompting strong condemnation from the UN peacekeeping mission.

This incident occurs amid rising tensions along Lebanon's southern border, where UNIFIL has recorded several violations by Israeli forces in recent months, leading to increased coordination efforts with the Lebanese army to mitigate escalation.