UNIFIL Reports Gunfire from Israeli Tank in Lebanon, Israeli Army Claims No Intent

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

In an official statement, UNIFIL indicated that the incident took place in a sensitive border region, confirming that its personnel were unharmed. However, it deemed the event a serious breach of Security Council Resolution 1701, which governs the cessation of hostilities between Lebanon and Israel.

The Israeli military responded by stating that the gunfire was unintentional and announced that it is conducting an internal investigation into the matter. This stance mirrors its response to a previous incident in September, when Israeli drones dropped munitions near UNIFIL personnel, an action that was met with strong condemnation from the UN force.

This incident occurs amid rising tensions along the southern border of Lebanon, where UNIFIL has documented multiple violations by Israeli forces in recent months. In response, the UN force is enhancing its coordination with the Lebanese army to manage the escalating situation.