UN force in Lebanon slams Israel from drone attack on peacekeepers

UNIFIL said the Israeli military had been informed in advance of its plans to carry out road clearance work near the de facto border.

The UN Interim Force in Lebanon said Wednesday that Israeli drones dropped four grenades near peacekeepers in "one of the most serious attacks" on its personnel since a November ceasefire.

A U.N. peacekeeper of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) stands at his post in the village of Markaba, near the border with Israel, southern Lebanon, (REUTERS)

"Yesterday morning, Israel Defense Forces drones dropped four grenades close to UNIFIL peacekeepers working to clear roadblocks hindering access to a UN position," the UN force said, referring to Israel's military.

"One grenade impacted within 20 metres and three within approximately 100 metres of UN personnel and vehicles," it added.

"This is one of the most serious attacks on UNIFIL personnel and assets since the cessation of hostilities agreement of last November" which sought to end more than a year of hostilities between Israel and Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

UNIFIL said the Israeli military had been informed in advance of its plans to carry out road clearance work near the de facto border southeast of the village of Marwahin.

It said endangering the lives of peacekeepers constituted a violation of the 2006 UN Security Council resolution that formed the basis of last year's ceasefire.

"Any actions endangering UN peacekeepers and assets, and interference with their mandated tasks are unacceptable and a serious violation of Resolution 1701 and international law," it said.

The UN Security Council voted last week for UN peacekeepers to leave Lebanon in 2027, allowing only one final extension of its mandate after pressure from Israel and its US ally to end the nearly 50-year-old force.

Israel hailed the upcoming termination of UNIFIL and urged the Lebanese government to exercise its authority throughout its territory after Israel's military devastated Iran-backed Hezbollah.

With the US administration dangling a veto threat, the Security Council voted unanimously for a resolution that will extend UNIFIL's mandate "a final time".