Soldiers of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon patrol in armored vehicles along the border with Israel, near the village of Kfar Kila in southern Lebanon, on June 4, 2025. (Credit: AFP)
U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres has condemned "in the strongest terms" the attack on a United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) patrol on Saturday, during which a French soldier was killed and three others were wounded. In a statement conveyed by U.N. spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, Guterres called on all parties in Lebanon to respect the cease-fire that took effect Friday and said that attacks against peacekeepers could amount to a "war crime."
According to a preliminary assessment by UNIFIL, the peacekeepers came under fire "from non-state actors, believed to be affiliated with Hezbollah," while they were inspecting a site where suspected improvised explosive devices had reportedly been placed on a road near Ghandourieh. Hezbollah has denied any connection to the violence that resulted in the death of the French peacekeeper.
This is the third incident in a matter of weeks that has resulted in the death of peacekeepers in Lebanon, after three Indonesian peacekeepers were killed during the 46-day war between the militia group and Israel. Saturday's incident occurred despite the announcement of a ten-day cease-fire on April 16. "All parties are urgently urged to respect this cessation of hostilities and to cease fire," the U.N. chief emphasized.
The Secretary-General also "renewed his call for all parties to respect their obligations under international law and at all times ensure the safety of United Nations personnel and the inviolability of the Organization's property and premises."
"Attacks against peacekeepers must stop," he stressed, reminding that such acts "constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law" and "may amount to war crimes." He also called for "all attacks ... to be swiftly investigated" and for those responsible to be "prosecuted and held accountable."
The Secretary-General further reiterated "the importance of the safety and freedom of movement" of the U.N. mission.
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