UN chief condemns south Lebanon incident blamed on Israel

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has condemned the explosion that wounded three UNTSO military observers and a Lebanese interpreter in south Lebanon on Saturday, while expressing “grave concern” at the daily exchanges of fire between Hezbollah and the Israeli forces.

The U.N. chief said the clashes, in violation of the 2006 Security Council resolution that halted hostilities in a war between Israel and Hezbollah, have caused dozens of civilian fatalities, destroyed residential and agricultural areas, and displaced tens of thousands of people on both sides of the Blue Line.

“These hostile actions have not only disrupted the livelihoods of thousands of people, but they also pose a grave threat to the security and stability of Lebanon, Israel, and the region,” a U.N. spokesman quoted Guterres as saying.

Guterres urges all actors to refrain from further violations of the 2006 cessation of hostilities “and to pursue a diplomatic solution to the crisis,” the spokesman said, adding that the U.N. chief stands ready to support such efforts.

Local Lebanese media, citing security officials, said an Israeli drone strike targeted the observers in the Wadi Qatmoun area near the border town of Rmeish.

The Israeli military said on social media platform X: “Contrary to the reports, the IDF did not strike a @UNIFIL —vehicle in the area of Rmeish this morning.”

Tenenti said UNIFIL was “investigating the origin of the explosion” but it was difficult to put investigators on the ground immediately because of the ongoing exchange of fire.

“The targeting of peacekeepers is unacceptable,” Tenenti told The Associated Press. “We repeat our call for all actors to cease the current heavy exchanges of fire before more people are unnecessarily hurt.”

UNIFIL was created to oversee the withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon after Israel’s 1978 invasion. The U.N. expanded its mission following the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah, allowing peacekeepers to deploy along the Israeli border to help the Lebanese military extend its authority into the country’s south for the first time in decades.