Vatican Aid Convoy Comes Under Fire, Forced to Retreat from Southern Lebanon

A Vatican-organized humanitarian convoy was forced to retreat after coming under fire while heading to Christian villages in southern Lebanon.

“War in the Middle East: gunfire in Lebanon prevents a Vatican aid convoy from reaching Christian villages”

Le Figaro

The convoy was escorted by the French UNIFIL battalion and was en route to the village of Debl.

Le Figaro

Vehicles sustained damage and a French peacekeeper was wounded.

The convoy had to backtrack after more than two hours due to exchanges of fire.

This marked a new threshold in southern Lebanon's security deterioration.

The convoy was delivering medicines and essential supplies to Christian villages along the border.

Several Christian-majority villages have been caught up in the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.

Libnanews

Residents have been refusing to leave despite evacuation orders.

They say the war is not theirs and they feel abandoned after the Lebanese Army withdrew.

The failure of the convoy underscores the growing humanitarian crisis.

The incident raises serious questions about the role and effectiveness of UNIFIL.

“Vatican envoy's aid convoy to south Lebanon retreats after taking fire An aid convoy organized by the Vatican envoy to Lebanon headed for Christian villages in the country's south had to turn back on Tuesday after it came under fire, a security source told AFP”

Naharnet

Despite the French peacekeepers escorting the convoy, exchanges of fire prevented the mission from reaching its destination.

A peacekeeper was injured.

UNIFIL is no longer merely an observation force in theory but is increasingly exposed to direct risk.

The retreat marks a symbolic erosion of security guarantees in southern Lebanon.