The Israeli military has accused United Nations peacekeepers of shooting down one of its surveillance drones in southern Lebanon.
The incident reportedly occurred near the border town of Kfar Kila during what Israel described as a routine intelligence gathering operation.
In a statement, Israeli military spokesperson Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani said an initial investigation showed that UNIFIL forces “deliberately fired at and downed the drone,” insisting that the aircraft’s movement “did not pose any threat” to the peacekeepers. He added that Israeli troops later threw a grenade at the crash site but did not fire directly at UN personnel.
However, UNIFIL, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, gave a different account. It said the Israeli drone flew over one of its patrols in an “aggressive manner,” prompting peacekeepers to use defensive measures to bring it down. The mission also reported that another Israeli drone dropped a grenade nearby, and an Israeli tank fired towards their position.
UNIFIL confirmed that no injuries were recorded among its personnel, but the incident has increased tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border. Both sides have since called for calm as investigations continue into what led to the confrontation.
The development comes at a time of heightened strain between Israel and groups operating within southern Lebanon. Observers say the clash reflects the fragile security balance in the area, which has been under UN peacekeeping supervision for decades.
The United Nations has called for a thorough and impartial investigation to determine what happened and to prevent future occurrences. The outcome of this inquiry could affect ongoing peacekeeping efforts and Israel’s surveillance operations along the border.