LEBANON – The United Nations has condemned the Israeli military for dropping grenades near its peacekeepers and Lebanese soldiers who were providing security for civilian workers in southern Lebanon on Thursday, 2 October 2025.
The incident occurred in the border village of Maroun al-Ras around 11:30 am local time. According to a statement from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), peacekeepers at two different sites heard a grenade explode near an excavator approximately 500 metres away.
Moments later, one group observed a drone flying overhead and witnessed an explosion some 30-40 metres from their position. Approximately twenty minutes after the initial incident, a second group reported seeing another drone drop a grenade that detonated just 20 metres above their heads.
UNIFIL emphasised that it had informed the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) about the scheduled activity in advance and immediately demanded a cessation of the attacks once they began.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported among the peacekeepers, Lebanese soldiers, or civilian workers, and the clearance work eventually resumed.
In a strongly worded statement, UNIFIL declared that such actions “constitute a serious violation of Security Council resolution 1701”.
The mission further stated that “attacks on peacekeepers or interference with their mandated tasks shows disregard for the safety and security of UNIFIL peacekeepers and the Lebanese army, and the stability they are working to restore in south Lebanon”.
The force called on the IDF to cease attacks on or near peacekeepers, civilians, and Lebanese soldiers and to allow them to carry out their mandated tasks without obstruction.
The Irish Defence Forces confirmed that their troops, part of the 126th Infantry Battalion in the area, were safe and accounted for following the incident.
This event marks the second such incident in recent weeks, after UNIFIL reported in September that Israeli drones had dropped four grenades near its personnel.
It occurs amidst a fragile truce; a US and French-brokered ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel has been in effect since 27 November 2024, ending over a year of hostilities.
Despite the agreement, the Israeli army has continued occasional strikes in Lebanon, which it claims target Hezbollah threats.
Sources: UNIFIL, Xinhua, Arab News, RTÉ