France issued a strongly worded statement condemning the shooting incident carried out by the Israeli army on December 26, 2025, near the locations of patrols of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
France called on Israel to refrain from repeating these violations of Security Council Resolution 1701 and to adhere to the ceasefire reached on November 26, 2024, which is binding on all parties concerned.
France also affirmed the importance of providing the necessary protection for peacekeeping forces and ensuring the safety and security of United Nations personnel, property and premises, in accordance with international law.
In a related context, France expressed its appreciation for the courage, efficiency, and commitment of UNIFIL personnel and reiterated its full support for the full implementation of the force’s mandate.
In a related context, UNIFIL stated in a press release issued last Friday that heavy machine gun fire was launched from Israeli army positions south of the Blue Line and landed near a patrol of the force that was inspecting a road obstruction in the village of Bastra, after hearing the sound of a grenade explosion in the neighboring area.
UNIFIL added that although no damage was caused to its property, the sound of the shooting and explosion caused a minor injury to one of the peacekeepers, consisting of an “ear concussion.”
