UNIFIL reported that heavy machine-gun rounds from an Israeli Merkava tank landed roughly 5 metres from a UN patrol in southern Lebanon; the peacekeepers withdrew safely after the tank pulled back. Israel said troops mistook the patrol for "suspects" in poor weather. UNIFIL called the incident a serious violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and reiterated appeals to respect the Blue Line. Lebanon plans to complain to the UN Security Council over an Israeli-built wall that reportedly blocks about 4,000 sq metres of territory.
UNIFIL Says Israeli Tank Fired Near Peacekeepers in Southern Lebanon — UN Calls It a Violation of Resolution 1701
UNIFIL reported that heavy machine-gun rounds from an Israeli Merkava tank landed roughly 5 metres from a UN patrol in southern Lebanon; the peacekeepers withdrew safely after the tank pulled back. Israel said troops mistook the patrol for "suspects" in poor weather. UNIFIL called the incident a serious violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and reiterated appeals to respect the Blue Line. Lebanon plans to complain to the UN Security Council over an Israeli-built wall that reportedly blocks about 4,000 sq metres of territory.
09:22 PM, 11/16/2025Conflict
UN peacekeepers fired on near southern Lebanon Blue Line
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) reported that Israeli forces fired on its peacekeepers on Sunday, when heavy machine-gun rounds from a Merkava tank landed around 5 metres (5.5 yards) from a UN patrol in southern Lebanon. UNIFIL said the tank was positioned close to an Israeli emplacement established inside Lebanese territory and that peacekeepers withdrew safely about 30 minutes after the tank pulled back.
Israel told reporters its troops opened fire after mistaking the UN patrol for "suspects" amid poor weather conditions. The Lebanese army condemned the incident, saying it is coordinating with international partners to halt what it described as ongoing violations and breaches by Israeli forces, which it called a dangerous escalation requiring immediate action.
UNIFIL described the shooting as "a serious violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701" and reiterated calls for the Israeli military to cease aggressive behaviour and attacks on or near peacekeepers.
The mission recalled a separate September incident when Israeli drones dropped four grenades near UNIFIL personnel in southern Lebanon, with one grenade landing within about 20 metres (22 yards) of UN staff and vehicles. UNIFIL and the Lebanese army have been jointly working to uphold the November 2024 truce that followed intensified hostilities after the Gaza war began in October 2023.
Context remains tense: Israel says its strikes target Hezbollah positions and fighters but has not publicly provided evidence. Lebanese officials and UN-linked reporting say recent operations have caused large-scale civilian casualties, widespread displacement and damage to villages; those figures are presented as reported by Lebanese authorities and UN sources rather than independently verified here.
Separately, Lebanese authorities plan to file a complaint with the UN Security Council over an Israeli-built concrete wall along the southern border that crosses the Blue Line — the roughly 120 km (75-mile) unofficial line the UN uses to confirm Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory. Lebanese officials say UN reports show the wall has blocked about 4,000 sq metres (approximately 43,055 sq ft) of land used by residents.
UNIFIL has reiterated calls for the Israeli military to respect the Blue Line in its entirety and to withdraw from areas north of it, warning that continued violations risk further escalation and endanger UN personnel deployed to monitor the truce.