A face-off between Lebanese soldiers and Israeli tanks, separated by UNIFIL peacekeepers, Mar. 5, 2023. (Credit: The Lebanese Army)
An Israeli drone struck a Lebanese Army base in the southern Lebanese village of Aita al-Shaab (Bint Jbeil), a Lebanese Army source and a security source told L'Orient Today. There were no casualties.
This came hours after three UN observers and a translator were injured in what UN peacekeeping force, UNIFIL, described as an "explosion" while they were on a foot patrol near the Blue Line in the south. Early reports had suggested it was an Israeli drone strike, which the Israeli army denied.
The Israeli army has carried out repeated attacks on Lebanese Army bases in south Lebanon since the beginning of the war on Oct. 7, one of which killed a Lebanese Army soldier on Dec. 5. This incident alongside repeated attacks on the Lebanese Army in the last few months prompted alarm in the Biden administration and rebukes from top US officials to Israeli leadership.
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati earlier condemned the "targeting" of UN forces in southern Lebanon that wounded three UN observers.
Following the explosion, Lebanon filed an "urgent" complaint on Saturday before the United Nations following what it called an "attack" on a UN foot patrol along the Blue Line in southern Lebanon.