The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has said that Israeli soldiers shot at its peacekeepers this morning from a tank near an army position in the country's south.
UNIFIL has been working with the Lebanese army to consolidate a truce between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah reached last November.
"This morning, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) fired on UNIFIL peacekeepers from a Merkava tank from near a position Israel has established in Lebanese territory," the peacekeepers said in a statement.
UNIFIL added that heavy machine gun rounds hit about five metres from their personnel.
The force said the peacekeepers were able to "leave safely 30 minutes later" after the tank withdrew inside the Israeli position.
This morning, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) fired on UNIFIL peacekeepers from a Merkava tank from near a position Israel has established in Lebanese territory.
— UNIFIL (@UNIFIL_) November 16, 2025
UNIFIL said the shooting "represents a serious violation of UN Security Council resolution 1701", which ended a 2006 conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, and also formed the basis of last November's truce.
A spokesperson for the Irish Defence Forces said "no Irish personnel were involved in this incident".
Israel's military said it had not intended to shoot towards United Nations peacekeepers in southern Lebanon, saying its forces mistook them for "suspects" and fired warning shots.
"After a review, it was determined that the suspects were UN soldiers who were conducting a patrol in the area and were classified as suspects due to poor weather conditions," the Israel Defense Forces said in a statement, adding: "No deliberate fire was directed toward UNIFIL soldiers".
That ceasefire sought to end more than a year of hostilities between the parties that broke out after the start of the Gaza war.
Under the deal, Israel was to withdraw its forces from south Lebanon, but it has kept them at five areas it deems strategic.
It has also kept up regular strikes on Lebanon, mainly saying it is targeting Hezbollah sites and operatives.
This morning's incident was not the first in which UNIFIL accused Israel of endangering its peacekeepers.
"Yet again, we call on the IDF to cease any aggressive behavior and attacks on or near peacekeepers," the force said.
I am deeply concerned by today's incident in Southern Lebanon in which UN Peacekeepers came under fire.
— Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) November 16, 2025
I have been briefed on the matter by the Chief of Staff of @defenceforces & am assured that no 🇮🇪 personnel were involved in the incident.
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