A UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon, Unifil, reported shooting down an Israeli drone over southern Lebanon on Sunday, leading to conflicting accounts from both sides. Unifil stated it acted in response to the drone flying aggressively, while the Israeli military claimed the drone was conducting routine intelligence gathering and posed no threat. The incident escalated further with reports of Israeli forces dropping a grenade and firing a tank shot near peacekeepers.
Drone Incident Details
On Sunday, the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon (Unifil) stated its forces shot down an Israeli drone. The drone was reportedly flying over a Unifil patrol in the southern border town of Kfar Kila. Unifil characterized the drone's flight as "aggressive" and stated its peacekeepers employed "necessary defensive countermeasures."
The Israeli military, through spokesman Lt Col Nadav Shoshani, presented a different account, stating the drone was engaged in "routine intelligence-gathering activity." An initial inquiry by the Israeli military suggested that Unifil forces "deliberately fired at the drone and downed it," asserting that "the drone's activity did not pose a threat to Unifil forces."
Subsequent Actions
Following the drone incident, the Israeli military reported that its forces dropped a grenade towards the area where the drone fell. Lt Col Shoshani clarified that no fire was directed at Unifil forces and indicated the incident is under review through military coordination channels.
Unifil, however, reported that another Israeli drone dropped a grenade "close" to a patrol moments later. Unifil also stated that an Israeli tank subsequently fired a shot towards the peacekeepers. No injuries or damage to Unifil personnel or assets were reported from these events.
Regional Context
The incident occurred despite a ceasefire established last November, which concluded hostilities with Hezbollah. Israel has continued to conduct drone flights and airstrikes in Lebanon, targeting individuals and sites it identifies as linked to Hezbollah. The Israeli military states these actions aim to prevent Hezbollah from regrouping and rearming.
Both the UN and the Lebanese government regard Israel's continued operations as violations of Lebanese sovereignty and breaches of the ceasefire agreement.
Unifil Operations History
The downing of an Israeli drone by Unifil is an infrequent occurrence. Unifil has maintained a presence on Lebanon's southern border since 1978 and is scheduled to begin a year-long withdrawal from the country at the end of 2026. A previous instance of Unifil forces neutralizing a drone involved a German naval vessel intercepting a drone off Lebanon's coast in October 2024. The Israeli military has reportedly intensified its attacks in Lebanon, concurrent with Hezbollah's stance on not disarming.