The United Nations peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon has reported shooting down an Israeli drone. According to the UN force, known as Unifil, the drone was flying in an “aggressive manner” over a patrol near the town of Kfar Kila on Sunday. In response, peacekeepers took “necessary defensive countermeasures.”
The Israeli military, however, presented a different perspective, stating that the drone was conducting “routine intelligence-gathering activity.” A military spokesperson claimed that the drone’s actions posed no threat and suggested that Unifil forces fired on it deliberately. Following the drone’s descent, Israeli forces reportedly dropped a grenade in the vicinity where it fell, a move Unifil stated was directed towards their peacekeepers. Fortunately, no personnel or equipment were harmed in either incident.
This event occurs amidst heightened tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border, even with a ceasefire in place since November. Israel continues to conduct drone surveillance and airstrikes in Lebanon, citing efforts to counter Hezbollah. Lebanon and the UN view these actions as violations of sovereignty and the existing ceasefire agreement.
Unifil’s action of downing an Israeli drone is considered rare. The peacekeeping mission has been stationed in southern Lebanon since 1978. The last reported incident of this nature involved a German naval vessel participating in Unifil intercepting a drone off the Lebanese coast in October 2024.
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