A French peacekeeper serving with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) was killed and three others wounded — two seriously — in a small-arms attack in the southern Lebanese village of Ghandouriyeh on Saturday.
UNIFIL said the attack occurred during an explosive ordnance disposal patrol clearing roadside devices. In a statement, the force said its “initial assessment indicates the fire came from non-state actors (allegedly Hezbollah)” and called on the Lebanese government to “swiftly initiate an investigation to identify and hold the perpetrators accountable.”
French President Emmanuel Macron was more direct. “Everything suggests that responsibility for this attack lies with Hezbollah,” he posted on X, demanding that Lebanese authorities “immediately arrest the perpetrators and take their responsibilities alongside UNIFIL.”
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam condemned the attack and ordered a probe. The Lebanese military described the incident as “an exchange of fire with armed men.” President Joseph Aoun assured Macron in a phone call that those responsible would be prosecuted.
The killing is the most serious violence against UNIFIL peacekeepers since Israel and Lebanon agreed to a 10-day ceasefire on April 16. UNIFIL’s explosive disposal teams have been central to clearing unexploded munitions left over from months of Israel-Hezbollah fighting.
The attack places renewed strain on the fragile truce and complicates France’s role, which has pushed for Lebanon-centred diplomatic tracks throughout the Middle East conflict. UNIFIL’s mandate and safety arrangements are likely to come under review at the UN Security Council in the coming days.
