UNIFIL warns 'Lebanese actors' after shots fired at one of its vehicles near Bint Jbeil

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) on Friday warned certain unnamed 'actors' in Lebanon of the risk of a 'deterioration' in the situation in the south of the country, after shots were fired at one of its vehicles near Bint Jbeil.

Tensions between residents of southern Lebanon — a region whose population is largely sympathetic to Hezbollah and the Amal movement — are common, but had seemed to decrease in recent months, especially after the Security Council voted to renew the peacekeepers' mandate for only one year before their withdrawal.

In a statement, UNIFIL first condemned Thursday afternoon's Israeli strikes, which came after calls to evacuate buildings in Jbaa, Mahrouna, Mjadel and Braasheet, denouncing them as 'clear violations of Security Council Resolution 1701' (adopted in 2006).

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It urged the Israeli army to use available 'liaison and coordination mechanisms' to report potential breaches of this agreement and the November 2024 cease-fire, including the presence of Hezbollah weapons, as the Israelis said they had targeted the party's 'military infrastructure.'

These bombings occurred 'while the Lebanese Army continues its operations aimed at controlling unauthorized weapons and infrastructure in southern Lebanon,' the statement added.

In addition, the peacekeepers 'warned Lebanese actors against any response that could further worsen the situation,' after peacekeepers were 'approached last night by six men riding three motorcycles near Bint Jbeil, with one of them shooting about three rounds at the rear of the vehicle.'

While no UNIFIL soldier was injured, these attacks 'are unacceptable and constitute serious violations of Resolution 1701,' the U.N. force stressed. It also reminded Lebanese authorities 'of their obligations to ensure the safety of the peacekeepers' and called for an investigation into the incident.

'Both parties (Lebanon and Israel) must respect their commitments and obligations under Resolution 1701, as well as the 'arrangements agreed to in November,' marking the start of the cease-fire between Hezbollah and Israel, 'if they want to preserve the progress made so far,' UNIFIL added.