UN condemns Israeli grenade attacks near peacekeepers in southern Lebanon

4/10/2025 6:06

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) on Friday condemned Israeli grenade attacks near its peacekeepers and Lebanese soldiers in southern Lebanon, calling them a serious violation of UN Security Council resolution 1701.



In a statement, UNIFIL said that Israel Defense Forces (IDF) drones on Thursday dropped several grenades near peacekeepers who were working alongside Lebanese soldiers to protect civilian workers clearing the rubble of homes destroyed in the conflict in the border village of Maroun al-Ras.



Peacekeepers at two separate locations heard a grenade explode near an excavator about 500 meters away.



Minutes later, one group saw a drone overhead and witnessed an explosion 30 to 40 meters away.



About 20 minutes after that, another group reported a grenade dropped by a drone exploding only 20 meters above their heads.



UNIFIL had informed the IDF in advance of the work and immediately demanded an end to the attacks.



No casualties were reported, and the clearance operation later resumed.



On Aug. 28, the UN Security Council extended UNIFIL's mandate for the final time ahead of its planned withdrawal.



Resolution 2790, which was unanimously adopted by the 15-member council, extends the mandate until Dec. 31, 2026, before a year-long drawdown and withdrawal.