UNIFIL condemns Israeli gunfire near peacekeepers in S. Lebanon

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said on Wednesday that Israeli forces fired on peacekeepers patrolling the Blue Line in southern Lebanon on Tuesday, calling the incident a "serious violation" of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, reported Xinhua.

UNIFIL said a Merkava tank near the town of Sarda fired one 10-round burst of machine-gun fire over the peacekeepers' convoy, followed by four additional 10-round bursts nearby. Both the peacekeepers and the tank were located in Lebanese territory at the time. No injuries were reported.

The peacekeepers immediately contacted the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) through UNIFIL liaison channels to halt the firing. UNIFIL noted that the IDF had been informed in advance of the patrol's location and timing, in line with standard procedures for operations in sensitive areas near the Blue Line.

"Attacks on or near peacekeepers constitute serious violations of Security Council resolution 1701," UNIFIL said, calling on the IDF to cease any aggressive behavior.