Israeli drones dropped four grenades perilously close to United Nations peacekeepers in southern Lebanon on Tuesday morning, narrowly missing personnel working to clear roadblocks near the Israeli border. The incident, described by the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) as “one of the most serious attacks” on its personnel since the November ceasefire that halted the 14-month Israel-Hezbollah war, has sparked international outrage.

According to UNIFIL, the attack occurred southeast of the village of Marwahin, less than a kilometer from the border. The peacekeepers were engaged in routine road clearance to restore access to a UN position when the drones struck. One grenade landed just 20 meters from UN personnel and vehicles, while three others exploded within 100 meters. The drones were seen retreating toward Israel, UNIFIL reported. No injuries were reported, but the proximity of the blasts has raised serious concerns about the safety of UN forces in the region.

UNIFIL had informed the Israeli military in advance of the peacekeeping operation, making the attack particularly alarming. “This is a grave violation of international law and the UN resolution that ended the war,” a UNIFIL spokesperson stated, emphasizing that Israel is responsible for ensuring the safety of peacekeepers carrying out Security Council-mandated tasks. Out of caution, UNIFIL suspended its road clearance efforts following the incident.

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The attack comes on the heels of a controversial UN Security Council decision last week to terminate UNIFIL’s mission in southern Lebanon by the end of 2026, a move pushed by the United States and Israel after nearly five decades of peacekeeping in the region. UNIFIL has been instrumental in monitoring the volatile security situation along the Lebanon-Israel border, particularly during the recent Israel-Hezbollah conflict, which claimed over 4,000 lives in Lebanon, including hundreds of civilians, and caused $11 billion in damages, according to World Bank estimates. In Israel, the war resulted in 127 deaths, including 80 soldiers.

Critics, including officials from the administration of US President Donald Trump, have long scrutinized UNIFIL’s operations, accusing it of ineffectiveness and prompting calls to cut US funding. However, Tuesday’s attack has reignited debates about the mission’s critical role in maintaining stability in the region.

UNIFIL condemned the incident, stating that any actions endangering peacekeepers or obstructing their work are “unacceptable” and violate international law. The force called for a thorough investigation and urged Israel to take immediate steps to prevent future attacks. The Israeli military has yet to issue a statement on the incident, leaving questions unanswered about the motives behind the drone strikes.

As tensions simmer in southern Lebanon, the attack underscores the fragile nature of the ceasefire and the challenges facing UN peacekeepers in a region marred by decades of conflict. The international community now watches closely to see how this dangerous escalation will impact the future of peacekeeping efforts in Lebanon.

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