UN peacekeepers report rounds near their positions north of Blue Line; UNIFIL urges IDF withdrawal
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Summary
UNIFIL said an Israeli tank fired near its positions north of the Blue Line near Sadra, with rounds landing about five meters from peacekeepers. The force requested the firing stop through liaison channels and called for an IDF withdrawal to permit Lebanese Army redeployment.
A UNIFIL spokesperson said the Secretary‑General is "deeply concerned" after what the force described as an Israeli tank firing near United Nations positions north of the Blue Line near Sadra. The spokesperson said rounds struck about five meters from UN peacekeepers but that no UNIFIL personnel were injured.
The statement, read by an unnamed UNIFIL spokesperson, said the incident occurred "yesterday" and that UNIFIL "requested the IDF to stop the firing immediately" through established liaison channels. The spokesperson said UNIFIL also called on the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to withdraw from positions inside Lebanon "to allow the Lebanese army to fully redeploy across the south of Lebanon and restore security and stability."
UNIFIL framed the withdrawal request as necessary for displaced residents to return: "The presence of Israeli soldiers in South Lebanon simply means that people cannot return to the towns and villages" and that stability means communities returning, children attending school and farmers harvesting crops in peace.
The UNIFIL spokesperson characterized the pattern of incidents as an increase in frequency, saying the Secretary‑General was "deeply concerned by the increased frequency of incidents impacting the safety and security of our peacekeepers in Lebanon." The statement did not include an exact date for the briefing or additional operational details about the IDF position it referenced.
UNIFIL said it used its liaison channels to press the IDF to stop firing; the statement did not include an independent corroboration of the IDF account or further response from Israeli authorities. The force said no UN personnel were hurt and repeated that its presence aims to help Lebanon and Israel restore stability along the Blue Line.
Next steps were not specified in the statement; UNIFIL called for withdrawal and Lebanese Army redeployment but did not announce a timeline or further measures in this briefing.