BEIRUT (AP) - The Israeli army and the United Nations peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon have reported conflicting statements regarding the incident in which peacekeepers shot down an Israeli drone over the weekend. This incident occurs against the backdrop of escalating Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon, amidst efforts to maintain a fragile ceasefire that followed the end of Israel's war with Hezbollah last November. The Lebanese government is also facing increasing pressure to disarm Hezbollah, a powerful militant group.
The latest conflict involving Israel and Hezbollah began shortly after the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. This attack triggered a renewed war in the Gaza Strip, prompting Hezbollah, which operates mainly from southern Lebanon, to launch rockets into Israel in a show of solidarity with Hamas and the Palestinian cause.
According to Israeli Arabic military spokesperson Avichay Adraee, the drone was conducting "routine information-gathering and reconnaissance activity" near UNIFIL peacekeeping forces in Kfar Kila, a southeastern border town. Adraee asserted that the drone did not engage or fire at the peacekeeping troops and stated that following the drone's downing, Israeli Defense Forces used a hand grenade in the vicinity of where the drone fell.
In contrast, UNIFIL's statement on Sunday characterized the same Israeli drone as operating "in an aggressive manner" over a UNIFIL patrol. The peacekeeping force indicated that their personnel took necessary defensive countermeasures to neutralize the drone. Following this engagement, they reported that another Israeli drone dropped a grenade near their mission, and an Israeli tank subsequently fired in their direction, though no peacekeepers were reported injured.
Established in 1978 following Israel's invasion of southern Lebanon, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) was tasked with overseeing the withdrawal of Israeli troops. Its mission was expanded after the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah, to ensure peace and stability in the region. However, the U.N. Security Council has announced that UNIFIL's mandate will end on December 31, 2026, allowing one additional year for the force to wind down its operations and withdraw its personnel.
This recent confrontation involving an Israeli drone underscores ongoing tensions in the region, especially in light of the broader conflict that erupted after the October 7th attacks. As military actions intensify, the situation remains precarious for both military personnel and peacekeepers operating in southern Lebanon.
