(MENAFN) UN peacekeepers deployed in southern Lebanon have condemned Israel for opening fire on one of their patrols, denouncing what they termed the nation's "aggressive behavior." Israeli authorities have confirmed the shooting took place but maintain it was accidental, attributing the error to adverse weather.

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) announced Sunday that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) discharged weapons at personnel from a Merkava tank.

The organization labeled the episode "a serious violation" of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon that concluded the 2006 conflict, emphasizing this was not an isolated incident. "Yet again, we call on the IDF to cease any aggressive behavior and attacks on or near peacekeepers, who are working to support the return to the stability that both Israel and Lebanon say they seek."

Israel verified that its military fired upon UN troops but characterized it as unintentional. The IDF stated its forces had spotted "two suspects" in the El Hamames region and discharged warning shots, prompting the individuals to retreat with no casualties recorded.

Following an investigation, the IDF explained the suspects "were UN soldiers who were conducting a patrol in the area and were classified as suspects due to poor weather conditions," noting that "no deliberate fire was directed toward UNIFIL soldiers."

Lebanon criticized Israel for "violating Lebanese sovereignty, causing instability and obstructing the full deployment of the army in the south."

The Israel-Lebanon frontier has remained a flashpoint, with the Jewish state and Lebanese paramilitary organization Hezbollah frequently trading fire.

Hostilities intensified after the Israel-Hamas war ignited in 2023, with Hezbollah—a Hamas ally—firing rockets and missiles into the neighboring nation, prompting Israeli retaliation. In late 2024, Israeli forces entered southern Lebanon.

Under a ceasefire arrangement negotiated later that year, Israel committed to complete withdrawal but has only partially complied—maintaining multiple positions in Lebanon while asserting that Hezbollah continues operations in the region and represents a security threat.

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