Israeli drones drop grenades near UN peacekeepers in Lebanon

• Israel dropped four grenades near UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon during a road-clearing operation, narrowly missing them, despite prior notification of their location.
• Israel claims the attack was accidental, using “sonic bombs” near a suspect, but UNIFIL calls it one of the most serious incidents since the November ceasefire.
• France and Qatar condemned the strike as a violation of international law, while critics warn that UNIFIL’s upcoming withdrawal will leave Lebanon defenseless against Israeli aggression.
• This follows a history of Israeli attacks on UN personnel, including the 2006 Qana airstrike that killed four unarmed observers, raising concerns about Israel’s escalating defiance of global norms.
• With Israel occupying Lebanese territory and Hezbollah refusing to disarm, the region faces worsening instability as the U.S. and Israel push to dismantle UNIFIL’s peacekeeping role.

Israeli drones dropped four grenades near UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon on Tuesday in what the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) called “one of the most serious attacks on UNIFIL personnel and assets” since the November ceasefire.

The peacekeepers were clearing roadblocks near the village of Marwahin, less than a kilometer from the Israeli border, when the attack occurred. One grenade landed just 65 feet away, while three others struck within 330 feet. Miraculously, no one was injured—but the message was clear.

Israel claims it wasn’t intentional

The Israeli military later claimed it did not intentionally target the peacekeepers, insisting it had dropped “sonic bombs” near a suspect in the area. But here’s the problem: UNIFIL had informed Israel in advance about the road clearance operation. As UN spokesman Stéphane Dujarric stated, “Whether or not they meant to do it… the Israeli Defense Forces were fully informed in advance of the work that we were doing on road clearance in that area.”

So, if Israel knew exactly where the peacekeepers were, how does a drone “accidentally” drop grenades within striking distance? And why were the drones observed returning toward Israel afterward?

France and Qatar condemn the attack as a violation of international law

France, which has a significant contingent within UNIFIL, condemned the strike, declaring that “the respect of its members applies to all parties without exception.” Qatar went further, calling it a “grave violation of international humanitarian law” and a breach of the UN Security Council resolution that ended the Israel-Hezbollah war.

This incident comes just days after the UN Security Council voted to terminate UNIFIL’s mission by the end of next year in a decision pushed heavily by the U.S. and Israel. Critics argue that removing UNIFIL will leave Lebanon even more vulnerable to Israeli aggression.

This isn’t the first time Israel has been accused of targeting UN personnel. During the 14-month Israel-Hezbollah war, Israeli forces attacked UNIFIL peacekeepers more than two dozen times. And let’s not forget the 2006 Qana airstrike, where Israel bombed a UN observer post, killing four unarmed military observers.

Now, with this latest incident, questions arise: Is Israel sending a message that it will not tolerate any presence—even UN peacekeepers—near its self-declared buffer zone in Lebanon?

Israel’s occupation and Hezbollah’s defiance

Israel continues to occupy at least five points in Lebanese territory despite the November ceasefire agreement. Meanwhile, Hezbollah has been weakened but refuses to disarm, arguing that Lebanon’s sovereignty can only be secured by ending Israeli aggression.

The Lebanese government, already struggling with an underfunded military, relies on UNIFIL as a buffer. But with the U.S. and Israel pushing for UNIFIL’s withdrawal, the stage is set for further instability.

This attack isn’t just about grenades near peacekeepers; it’s about Israel’s growing disregard for international law and human life. The fact that no one was hurt this time is pure luck. Next time, we might not be so fortunate.

Sources for this article include:

Military.com

APNews.com

AlJazeera.com

TheGuardian.com