Lebanonupdated 22m ago2 min read
UNIFIL Patrol Comes Under Fire Near Wadi Jilu in Lebanon’s Tyre District
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UNIFIL patrol near Wadi Jilu in Tyre district came under fire, about a dozen rounds. Patrol returned fire; no peacekeepers were injured or casualties reported.
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Patrol Fired Upon
UNIFIL said a routine patrol came under fire in the south of Lebanon on Tuesday, with “about a dozen rounds” fired near Wadi Jilu in Lebanon’s Tyre district. UNIFIL reported that the patrol returned fire after spotting a muzzle flash, and the shooting stopped, while the mission said it reported no casualties and called for an investigation.
UNIFIL said it reiterated “the obligation under international law for all actors to ensure the safety and security of UN personnel and property at all times,” and it framed deliberate attacks on peacekeepers as violations of Security Council resolution 1701 and international humanitarian law. The incident unfolded as UNIFIL’s mandate in Lebanon nears its expiry at the end of this year, and the UN Security Council voted last year to end the mission on December 31, 2026 under pressure from the United States.
G7 Talks and No Breakthrough
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said the Group of Seven foreign ministers met in Paris and agreed on “the need to avoid a security void” in Lebanon after UNIFIL withdraws. Barrot acknowledged that there had been no breakthrough on what should replace UNIFIL, and he said the foreign ministers backed “the need to move quickly toward a new security architecture”.
The Times of Israel reported that UNIFIL said its forces came under fire during a “routine patrol” near Wadi Jilou, east of Tyre and outside the Israeli buffer zone, and it said no one was hurt. The Times of Israel also quoted US Secretary of State Marco Rubio proposing that what replaces UNIFIL “doesn’t have to be a military mission; it could be a civilian mission,” while UNIFIL called on the Lebanese government to swiftly initiate an investigation.
What Happens After UNIFIL
UNIFIL said it urged the Lebanese government to swiftly launch an investigation to identify those responsible and hold them accountable, after the patrol returned fire and the shooting stopped. Anadolu Ajansı said the incident came amid growing concerns in Lebanon over a potential security vacuum in the south when UNIFIL’s mandate expires at the end of 2026.
UNIFIL described its role as a buffer between Israel and Lebanon since 1978, and it said its mandate expanded after the 2006 war to include monitoring the cessation of hostilities, assisting the Lebanese army in deploying across southern Lebanon, reporting violations and maintaining communication with the Lebanese and Israeli sides. Türkiye Today said Lebanese officials have called for UNIFIL to be extended, and it said Israeli troops continue to occupy parts of the south while Hezbollah still refuses to disarm.