South Lebanon is witnessing disturbing developments that threaten to disturb the faltering stability, as Israel and other parties exchange accusations about targeting a UNIFIL patrol, amid conflicting narratives and escalating tensions despite the declared truce.
The Israeli army announced, through its spokeswoman Ella Wawiyeh, that a comprehensive investigation, based on intelligence information and field operations, showed the involvement of Hezbollah members in the shooting of a force belonging to the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) while it was carrying out its duties in the town of Ghandouria – Bint Jbeil district, during the ceasefire period.
Wawiyya indicated that the incident occurred while a UNIFIL force was carrying out the mission of removing the remnants of war from unexploded ordnance, explaining that an “armed cell” opened fire on the soldiers, killing one soldier and wounding three others, two of whom were in a critical condition.
She added that this information is based on an in-depth field and intelligence investigation conducted by the Israeli army, considering that the party “is exploiting the ceasefire to carry out activities that expose civilians and international organizations to danger.”
UNIFIL had indicated in its initial assessments that the perpetrators of the attack belonged to “non-governmental parties,” with the possibility of a link between them and Hezbollah.
It also described the attack as “very serious” and may amount to a war crime, calling on the Lebanese authorities to open an immediate investigation and bring those responsible to justice.
On the other hand, the party denied any connection to the incident, calling for patience and not to rush to issue judgments before the results of the official investigations conducted by the Lebanese army appear, and stressing the importance of continuing cooperation and coordination between it, UNIFIL and the Lebanese army in light of these sensitive security conditions.
