Israeli Drones Target UN Peacekeepers in One of Most Serious Attacks Since Ceasefire

By Jerry Williams

The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Lebanon has condemned a near strike by Israeli drones, calling it “one of the most serious attacks” on its personnel since last year’s ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.

On Wednesday, the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) reported that Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) drones dropped four grenades near UN personnel clearing roadblocks close to the village of Marwahin, along the de facto Israel-Lebanon border. One grenade landed just 20 meters from peacekeepers, while three others exploded within roughly 100 meters of UN staff and vehicles.

UNIFIL confirmed that the Israeli military had been informed in advance about the road clearance work. The agency condemned the attack as a blatant violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which laid the foundation for the 2006 ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. “Any actions endangering UN peacekeepers or obstructing their mandate are unacceptable and violate international law,” the statement read.

The grenade strike adds to already mounting tensions, arriving days after the UN Security Council voted unanimously to end UNIFIL’s mission by 2027. The nearly 50-year-old force will receive only one final mandate extension, following pressure from Israel and the United States, who have criticized the mission for failing to rein in Hezbollah’s influence in southern Lebanon. The U.S. administration had even threatened to veto the mandate renewal unless a deadline was set.

Israel welcomed the decision, urging the Lebanese government to exert full authority over its territory. Officials emphasized that the conclusion of the mission reflects a shifting responsibility: one that Lebanon must now assume.

The drone attack underscores the fragility of the ceasefire and the shrinking space for peacekeeping operations in a region where skirmishes and mistrust continue to define cross-border relations.