According to United Nations Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, Israeli military drones dropped grenades near UNIFIL peacekeepers who were removing roadblocks, a task mandated by the Security Council resolution 1701. This resolution authorizes peacekeepers to monitor the cessation of hostilities agreement between Israel and Hezbollah and support the Lebanese armed forces following Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon. The incident occurred on Tuesday, with the UNIFIL mission describing it as one of the most serious attacks on its personnel since the cessation of hostilities agreement last November.
The UNIFIL mission reported that Israeli forces had been informed in advance about the road clearance work. Despite the attack, no injuries were reported among the peacekeepers. The drones, after dropping grenades within 20 to 100 meters of the UN personnel and vehicles, were seen returning south of the Blue Line. The UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized that any acts endangering the lives of peacekeepers are unacceptable and urged both parties to ensure their safety and the inviolability of UN premises.
The attack comes amid other pressing global issues highlighted by the UN. Secretary-General Guterres expressed sadness over the devastation caused by recent floods in northern Pakistan, which have resulted in over 400 deaths and affected 1.5 million people. The disaster has been linked to severe monsoon conditions exacerbated by climate change. Meanwhile, UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell has pointed out that 37 countries have yet to meet their reporting obligations under the Paris Agreement's transparency framework, which is crucial for effective climate action.
Additionally, funding cuts are impacting the work of the Human Rights Council, as noted by its President Jürg Lauber. These cuts are affecting independent rights investigators and could limit the Council's ability to address global conflicts and issues such as climate change and disability rights. Lauber highlighted that these financial constraints could hinder research and the ability of investigators to gather testimonies from concerned countries.