A French UN peacekeeper was killed and three others were wounded in southern Lebanon after their patrol came under small-arms fire, according to officials. Three Indonesian UN peacekeepers were killed in separate incidents in southern Lebanon. Two Indonesian peacekeepers were killed on Monday after an explosion destroyed their vehicle near Bani Hayyan, according to a UNIFIL statement. Another Indonesian soldier was killed overnight Sunday into Monday when a projectile exploded near a UNIFIL position close to Adchit al-Qusayr, UNIFIL said. These fatal attacks mark a significant escalation in violence targeting UN personnel in the region.
The headquarters of Ghana's UNIFIL battalion in southern Lebanon was hit by missile attacks, leaving two soldiers critically injured, according to Irish national broadcaster RTE. On Friday, the UNIFIL base of the Ghanaian contingent in Kawsah was hit by two rockets, seriously injuring three soldiers, multiple reports indicate. A building on the base burned down completely, according to multiple reports. The attack caused significant damage to the battalion’s facilities, as the accommodation of 14 officers was completely destroyed by fire following the strike, the armed forces said. The officers' mess facility also got hit and has been burnt down completely, Ghana's military reported. The affected officers have since been re-kitted, re-accommodated, and provided with the necessary support, according to GAF. Two soldiers are critically injured, while one other has been traumatised, Ghana's military confirmed.
Israel's military acknowledged the strikes on the Ghanaian UNIFIL headquarters, saying they were responding to anti-tank fire from Hezbollah. Israel's military confirmed its tank fire struck a UN position in southern Lebanon on 6 March, injuring Ghanaian peacekeepers. The IDF said a comprehensive investigation determined the fire was mistakenly carried out by IDF troops who misidentified UNIFIL troops as the source of anti-tank fire. The IDF regrets the incident and has conveyed apologies to Ghana and the UN, according to an IDF statement. A Western military source said a UN inquiry indicated Israel's responsibility for the attack on Ghanaian peacekeepers. The Western source said preliminary conclusions indicated three strikes at the al-Qawzah base were direct hits from an Israeli battle tank using 120-mm shells manufactured by Israel Military Industries.
Additional attacks have targeted other UNIFIL positions and peacekeepers across southern Lebanon. A Polish soldier sustained minor injuries after a roadside device detonated as an Irish-Polish UNIFIL unit passed on patrol, according to multiple reports. A UNIFIL site in the town of Qouzah in the Bint Jbeil district was struck on Friday by Israel, Lebanon's National News Agency reported. Three of the soldiers sustained minor injuries, while one was critically wounded during the attack, the military said. A UN peacekeeping base near the village of Mais al-Jabal in southern Lebanon came under fire, sparking a blaze that wounded one peacekeeper, according to research from three sources. Amidst heavy firing this evening, three peacekeepers were injured inside their base in Qawzah in southern Lebanon, UNIFIL reported. The most severely injured has been transferred to hospital in Beirut for treatment, UNIFIL said.
UNIFIL is investigating where the projectile came from and urging all parties to respect international laws. UNIFIL said the patrol was clearing explosive ordnance along a road in Ghanduriyah village to reconnect isolated positions. UNIFIL condemned the attack as deliberate and said it came from non-state actors. UNIFIL had said on March 6 that Ghanaian peacekeepers were wounded amid heavy firing and called the incident unacceptable, but did not initially say who was responsible. UNIFIL spokesperson said the investigation is not yet complete and will be shared with parties once finalized, according to UNIFIL spokesperson Kandice Ardiel. UNIFIL is investigating the incident, UNIFIL spokeswoman Kandice Ardiel confirmed.
France's Armed Forces Minister said the peacekeeper was part of a mission to reopen access to a UNIFIL position when ambushed by an armed group at close range, according to France's Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin. French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the unforgivable attack on the UN peacekeeping force. France is working with its partners to prevent the conflict from spreading further in the region, Macron said. The French response highlights growing international concern about the targeting of UN personnel and the potential for broader regional escalation.
Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun condemned the attack and told Macron those responsible would be brought to justice. Hezbollah denied responsibility for the attack on French peacekeepers, calling accusations rushed and baseless. Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun held Israel responsible for the attack. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned Israeli attacks on Lebanon, adding that they had even reached the point of a direct assault on UNIFIL.
Indonesia condemned the incidents and called for a thorough investigation, according to the Indonesian foreign ministry. Ghana's foreign ministry protested the incident at UN headquarters in New York. The Ghanaian contingent remains resilient and committed to its peacekeeping duties, with the battalion in high spirits and morale remaining high, the military said. GAF expressed appreciation to the public for the solidarity and support shown to the troops serving abroad.
Irish soldiers helped evacuate the wounded Ghanaians, according to multiple reports. Irish Defence Forces said Irish troops and bases were not targeted in the attack on UNIFIL personnel. Irish Taoiseach Micheal Martin condemned the reckless attack on a UNIFIL base and said all Irish personnel in Lebanon remain safe and accounted for. Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Helen McEntee confirmed all Irish personnel in southern Lebanon are well and accounted for. Austrian army spokesman confirmed the attack and said Austrian soldiers were not affected, according to Austrian army spokesman Colonel Michael Bauer. Austrian Defence Minister Klaudia Tanner condemned any action endangering peacekeepers and said protection of Austrian soldiers has top priority. Tanner assured after a call with the Austrian contingent commander that the troops are well and currently not in danger.
Medical updates indicate the critically injured soldier has successfully undergone surgery and is responding well to treatment, according to a statement. Another soldier suffered severe shock, the Ghanaian army reported. All four injured soldiers are currently in stable condition, the armed forces said. These medical reports provide some relief amid the otherwise grim news from the conflict zone.
The recent violence represents a significant escalation in attacks against UNIFIL personnel in southern Lebanon, where peacekeepers have operated since 1978 to maintain stability along the Israeli-Lebanese border. This increase in targeting comes amid heightened tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, with cross-border exchanges becoming more frequent and intense in recent months. The attacks have forced UNIFIL to reassess security protocols and deployment patterns in the region.
The implications for regional stability are substantial, as attacks on UN peacekeepers undermine the credibility of international peacekeeping missions and could deter troop-contributing countries from participating in future operations. The incidents also risk drawing more international actors into the conflict, particularly as countries like France and Indonesia respond to the deaths of their nationals. The UN Security Council will likely face increased pressure to address the safety of peacekeepers and hold perpetrators accountable.
Key unknowns remain about responsibility for the attack that killed the French UN peacekeeper and wounded three others, as well as the origin of the projectile that killed Indonesian peacekeepers and injured others. The full findings of the UNIFIL investigation into the attack on the Ghanaian base have not been released, and the total number of casualties resulting from the recent escalation in southern Lebanon remains unclear. Specific measures being taken to protect UNIFIL peacekeepers from further attacks have not been detailed publicly, though UNIFIL has emphasized the need for all parties to respect international law.