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UN peacekeepers say came they under fire in southern Lebanon
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) said one of its patrols came under fire in southern Lebanon on Tuesday. The incident matters because the force says attacks on UN personnel and property must be prevented, while tensions continue despite a ceasefire.
The patrol was near Wadi Jilu when it was fired on with about a dozen rounds, Unifil said; it returned fire and the shooting then stopped. No casualties were reported, and the force called for an investigation without identifying who was responsible. Its mandate expires at the end of this year; Israel continues to attack southern Lebanon and occupies parts of the country, despite a ceasefire that began on 17 April and was renewed on 26 June.
In short
- Unifil says its patrol was fired on near Wadi Jilu.
- The exchange stopped after the patrol returned fire; no casualties were reported.
- The force called for an investigation and says its mandate ends this year.
Explained simply
Unifil is the United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon. It monitors the border area between Lebanon and Israel and helps support security arrangements there; its mandate is due to expire at the end of this year.
Israel and the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah have fought repeatedly across the border, and a ceasefire that began on 17 April was renewed on 26 June. The ceasefire has not ended tensions in southern Lebanon, where Israeli forces remain in parts of the country.