Armored vehicles belonging to the French contingent of UNIFIL, July 8, 2025, in the Sour region of southern Lebanon. (Credit: Matthieu Karam/L’Orient-Le Jour)
The Israeli army fired on United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) peacekeepers from a Merkava tank from near a position Israel has established in Lebanese territory, and no injuries were reported, UNIFIL said in a statement on Telegram Sunday.
This attack took place in the Khiam region, in the eastern sector of the border, near the Israeli-occupied position of Tallet Hamames, according to a statement from the Israeli army, which denied having "deliberately" targeted the Blue Helmets.
"Heavy machine gun rounds hit approximately five meters from the peacekeepers, who were on foot and had to take shelter in the terrain," the statement said.
"Peacekeepers asked for the [Israeli army] to stop firing through UNIFIL’s liaison channels. They were able to leave safely 30 minutes later, when the Merkava tank withdrew inside the [Israeli army] position. Fortunately, no one was injured. This represents a serious violation of Security Council resolution 1701," UNIFIL said.
"Yet again, we call on the [Israeli army] to cease any aggressive behavior and attacks on or near peacekeepers, who are working to support the return to the stability that both Israel and Lebanon say they seek," the statement concluded.
The Israeli army, for its part, asserted that it had not acted "deliberately," having mistaken the U.N. soldiers for "suspects," it stated in a press release.
"Earlier in the day, two suspects were identified in the Hamas area of southern Lebanon. Troops then fired warning shots ... after verification, it was determined that the suspects were U.N. soldiers conducting a patrol in the area," the Israeli army said, adding that the matter was "under investigation."
'Dangerous escalation' by Israel
Reacting to the attacks targeting UNIFIL, the Lebanese Army denounced Israel’s continued violations of the cease-fire on Sunday. “The Israeli enemy persists in its violations of Lebanese sovereignty, causing instability in Lebanon and hindering the full deployment of the army in the south.”
“The army command affirms that it is working in coordination with friendly countries to put an end to the continued violations and breaches by the Israeli enemy, which require immediate action as they constitute a dangerous escalation,” a statement from the army said.
Among the "friendly countries" mentioned by the troops, France and the United States are part of the "mechanism," the committee that monitors the implementation of the Nov. 27, 2024, cease-fire agreement.
In addition to the Tallet Hamames position, the Israeli army has occupied at least five other positions in Lebanese territory since the end of the war against Hezbollah, which took place between October 2023 and November 2024. It also continues to strike southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley almost daily.
In September, as peacekeepers were clearing a road blocking access to one of its positions near the Blue Line, Israeli army drones "dropped four grenades," UNIFIL had said.
During last autumn’s expanded Israeli offensive on Lebanon, UNIFIL was targeted multiple times, mainly by Israeli fire, injuring several peacekeepers.
Israeli tanks had also blocked access to a UNIFIL position and fired tear gas at the building.
Rocket fire of unknown origin from Lebanese territory also targeted a UNIFIL position in Beit Lif (Bint Jbeil).
On Sunday, Israel also targeted, with machine guns from the Ruwaisat al-Alam position, the town of Kfar Shuba (Hasbaya), our correspondent reported.
An illumination flare was also fired from the Israeli side over the Khiam plain (Marjayoun), according to our correspondent.
During the night, machine gun fire had targeted the outskirts of Shebaa (Hasbaya).
Calls for 'pressure on Israel to stop targeting civilians and farmers'
On Saturday night, the Union of Arqoub Municipalities said that Israel has expanded its assaults in the southeastern Arqoub region — including Shebaa Farms (Hasbaya) and the hills and lands of Kfar Shuba — "using drones, artillery fire, and machine-gun bursts."
The statement added that "Israeli forces have blocked residents from reaching their lands, disrupted movement between Arqoub villages, and repeatedly fired toward homes in Kfar Shuba, damaging rooftops, solar panels, vehicles and school vans and endangering civilians."
The union noted that "although no civilians have been injured, the intensifying and indiscriminate gunfire poses a serious threat to residents’ safety and daily life."
It said, "previous complaints to UNIFIL, the Lebanese Army, and the committee overseeing Resolution 1701 have brought no change in Israel’s behavior."
The statement condemned Israel’s actions as "violations of the cease-fire and Lebanese sovereignty, and appealed once again to UNIFIL, Lebanese authorities, and the U.S. and French governments to pressure Israel to stop targeting civilians and farmers and to protect residents’ ability to remain in their homes and lands."
Israeli forces also fired a smoke grenade toward al-Ain Square in the town of Adaisseh (Marjayoun), according to our correspondent.
On Saturday night, after 9 p.m., the outskirts of the town of Shebaa were subjected to an extensive combing operation from the Israeli Radar position opposite the town, according to our correspondent.
On Friday, UNIFIL accused the Israeli army of building “walls” on Lebanese territory, which Israel denies, while acknowledging the erection of a reinforced barrier along the border.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Saturday instructed Foreign Minister Joe Rajji to have Lebanon’s permanent mission to the United Nations file an urgent complaint with the U.N. Security Council against Israel for constructing the concrete wall.
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