BEIRUT (AP) — Israeli drones dropped four grenades close to U.N. peacekeepers in southern Lebanon near the border with Israel as they were working to clear roadblocks, the force said Wednesday. No one was hurt in the strike.
The peacekeeping force, the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon, described the Tuesday morning incident as “one of the most serious attacks on UNIFIL personnel and assets” since the cessation of hostilities in November that ended the 14-month Israel-Hezbollah war.
The Israeli military said later Wednesday that it didn’t intentionally target the peacekeepers, but dropped several sonic bombs near a suspect in a border area. It added that it had made contact with the peacekeeping force and explained the details of what happened.
UNIFIL said one grenade hit within 20 meters (65 feet) and three others within approximately 100 meters (330 feet) of U.N. personnel and vehicles, adding that the drones were observed returning toward Israel.
UNIFIL said the Israeli military had been informed in advance of the peacekeeping force’s road clearance work in the area, southeast of the village of Marwahin and less than a kilometer (about a half-mile) from the border line.
“Out of concern for the safety of peacekeepers following the incident, yesterday’s work was suspended,” UNIFIL said.
U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric when asked whether Secretary-General Antonio Guterres accepted Israel’s explanation that it did not intentionally target the peacekeepers, said, “Whether or not they meant to do it… what I can tell you is that the …