09:28 PM | 12 Apr 2026
Attacks on UNIFIL: two vehicles were rammed and paint was sprayed at the pedestrian entrance
Fady Mahouly
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, UNIFIL, announced that it had recorded repeated incidents of attacks and obstruction by the Israeli army, affecting its vehicles and movements along the Blue Line.
UNIFIL said in a statement that today, Israeli army soldiers rammed two of its vehicles using a Merkava tank, which in one case led to serious damage, in conjunction with cutting off a road in the town of Bayada that is used to reach international force positions.
She added that last week witnessed the firing of "warning shots" in the area, hitting clearly identified vehicles belonging to it, pointing to a serious incident in which one of the bullets landed just one meter away from a peacekeeper after he got off his vehicle.
UNIFIL confirmed that in recent days, Israeli forces continued to obstruct the movement of peacekeepers, with multiple cases of restriction of freedom of movement being recorded in different areas, at a time when their sites witnessed direct targeting, which included the destruction of Protection Force cameras at its general headquarters in Naqoura, in addition to five other sites on the Blue Line extending from Ras al-Naqoura to Maroun al-Ras.
It also referred to an additional incident that occurred yesterday, which involved spraying paint on the windows of the pedestrian entrance gate to its headquarters, blocking the view of the outside environment.
UNIFIL stressed that these practices contradict Israel's obligations under UN Security Council Resolution 1701, and with its duty to ensure the safety and security of peacekeepers and their freedom of movement, warning that these violations hinder its ability to carry out its tasks and monitor violations on the ground.
The international force confirmed that it will remain in its positions, continue to perform its duties with complete impartiality, and submit its reports to the Security Council regarding any documented violations.