French Soldier Killed in UN Lebanon Mission Attack, Officials Confirm

French Soldier Killed in UNIFIL Attack

A French soldier was killed and three others injured on Saturday when they were ambushed while clearing a road in southern Lebanon. The attack, which UNIFIL peacekeepers and French officials said was likely carried out by Iran-backed Hezbollah, left two of the injured seriously hurt.

French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the “unacceptable attack” during calls with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. He urged Lebanese authorities to act against those responsible for what he called a deliberate attack.

UNIFIL said initial assessments indicated the fire came from non-state actors, allegedly Hezbollah, and that an investigation had been launched into the incident in the southern village of Ghandouriyeh.

Hezbollah denied involvement, expressing surprise at accusations made against it. Lebanon’s army condemned the shooting and opened its own probe into the attack.

UNIFIL was first deployed in 1978 and has remained through successive conflicts, including a 2024 war during which its positions came under repeated fire.