In a statement issued today, January 12, 2026, the “United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)” reported that earlier today it monitored the movement of two “Merkava” tanks from a site belonging to the “Israeli Defense Forces” inside Lebanese territory near the town of Sarda, penetrating further into Lebanese territory.
UNIFIL indicated that the peacekeeping forces, through official communication channels, demanded that the tanks stop their movements, but one of the tanks subsequently fired three shells from its main gun, with two shells landing approximately 150 meters from the deployment locations of the peacekeeping forces.
UNIFIL also clarified that while its members were moving away to ensure their safety, they were continuously tracked by laser beams emitted from the tanks, before the Israeli vehicles withdrew from the area after about half an hour, without any casualties.
UNIFIL pointed out that it had previously informed the “Israeli Defense Forces” of the activities taking place in those areas, in accordance with routine procedures followed during patrols in sensitive areas adjacent to the “Blue Line.”
The statement stressed that these attacks targeting clearly identified peacekeeping forces mandated by Security Council Resolution 1701 are recurring alarmingly and constitute a serious violation of the aforementioned resolution.
UNIFIL concluded its statement by reminding the “Israeli Defense Forces” of its responsibility to ensure the safety of the peacekeeping forces and to stop attacks on them, considering this aggressive act undermines Resolution 1701 and the stability that the peacekeeping forces and the parties concerned are seeking to achieve.
