France has condemned gunfire from Israeli forces that resulted in the injury of a United Nations peacekeeper in southern Lebanon. The incident, which occurred on December 26, 2025, is viewed as part of a troubling trend of escalating violence against UN personnel in the region.
France’s foreign ministry issued a statement on Friday denouncing the Israeli army’s actions. The ministry highlighted that this incident is not isolated, referencing “a series of similar actions by the Israeli army against UNIFIL in recent weeks.” Such remarks underscore rising concerns regarding the safety of UN forces operating in a volatile area.
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), tasked with maintaining peace between Israel and Lebanon, confirmed that Israeli positions opened “heavy machine gun fire” near a patrol in the village of Bastarra. The fire resulted in a minor injury to a peacekeeper, who suffered an ear concussion.
On the same day, another UNIFIL patrol reported machine gun fire from the Israeli side while conducting routine operations in the nearby village of Kfarshouba. UNIFIL stated that it had previously informed the Israeli army about its patrol movements in both locations, indicating a clear communication effort aimed at preventing such clashes.
This incident adds to a series of reported encounters involving Israeli forces firing at UN personnel in recent months. Earlier in December, UNIFIL had documented similar occurrences, with additional reports from October and November highlighting a concerning pattern of aggression towards peacekeepers.
The mission of UNIFIL, which operates alongside the Lebanese army, is to uphold a truce that has been in place for approximately one year between Israel and the militant group Hezbollah. The ongoing violence poses significant challenges to this fragile peace and raises alarms about the safety of those involved in peacekeeping efforts.
As tensions remain high in the region, France’s condemnation reflects broader international concern regarding the implications of such actions on stability and peacekeeping missions in conflict zones. The situation continues to evolve, and both UNIFIL and international observers are closely monitoring developments in southern Lebanon.
