UN Chief Condemns Deadly Attack on UN Peacekeepers in Lebanon

(MENAFN) The head of the United Nations has strongly condemned an attack on the UNIFIL mission in Lebanon that killed a French peacekeeper and wounded three others, according to reports.

António Guterres said the incident took place on Saturday and described it as unacceptable, noting that it marks the third recent fatal attack involving UN personnel in the country. Writing on social media platform X, he said, “I strongly condemn Saturday’s attack on @UNIFIL_ during which one French peacekeeper was killed & another three were injured.”

He extended condolences to the victim’s family and colleagues and wished a quick recovery for those injured. Guterres also warned about the growing risks facing peacekeepers, stating that such incidents must stop and calling on all parties to respect the ceasefire and end hostilities.

The President of France, Emmanuel Macron, confirmed that the killed soldier was Sergeant Major Florian Montorio of the 17th Parachute Engineer Regiment. He said one French serviceman was killed and three others were injured in the same attack. Macron added, “Everything suggests that Hezbollah is responsible for this attack,” according to reports.

UNIFIL stated that one of its positions in the village of Ghanduriyah came under small-arms fire from what it described as non-state actors, and said an investigation has been launched into the incident.

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