Violence erupted in southern Lebanon as a group of young men attacked United Nations peacekeepers, raising serious concerns about security and stability in the region. Several videos circulating online depict a chaotic scene where one UN vehicle was set ablaze while peacekeepers attempted to escape the onslaught. The assailants, reportedly supporters of the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah, were seen carrying yellow flags as they chased and physically assaulted the peacekeepers.
In a separate incident captured on video, a convoy of three UN vehicles was targeted as men shouted and climbed onto the vehicles, kicking and hitting them along a dimly lit road. The violence coincided with heightened tensions in Lebanon, where supporters of Hezbollah have gathered outside Beirut’s airport in response to a standoff involving two Iranian planes that were barred from landing, leaving many Lebanese nationals stranded in Iran.
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) expressed shock at the attack, which they described as an outrageous violation of international law that could amount to war crimes. They called for an immediate and thorough investigation by Lebanese authorities and demanded that those responsible be brought to justice. The injured deputy commander of UNIFIL was reportedly returning home after completing his mission when the violence occurred.
The Amal movement, an ally of Hezbollah, condemned the attack, labeling it as an assault on southern Lebanon and a threat to civil peace. Lebanese Interior Minister Ahmed Al-Hajjar announced plans to convene a security meeting to address the incident, which he characterized as a crime against peacekeeping forces.
UNIFIL was established to monitor a buffer zone along the Israeli border following the 2006 Lebanon war, with the mission of maintaining security and stability in southern Lebanon. The recent violence raises alarms about the safety of peacekeepers and the overall security situation in the region, as tensions continue to simmer amidst political unrest and external influences.