Australian among UN peacekeepers wounded by shell in Lebanon, UN says

Beirut: An Australian was among three UN military observers and a Lebanese interpreter who were wounded while patrolling the southern Lebanese border after a shell exploded near them, the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon said.

The military observers are part of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation, which supports the UN peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon, UNIFIL.

UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti said the four wounded overnight were in stable condition.

Tenenti said UNIFIL had informed all warring parties of their patrols as usual and the observers’ vehicle was carrying clear UN markings. The three military observers, from Chile, Australia, and Norway, were unarmed, he said.

The blast came as clashes between the Israeli military and Hezbollah militants have escalated in recent weeks. Both sides have been exchanging fire since the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza broke out, propelling concerns that the near-daily clashes along the border could escalate into a full-scale war.

Local Lebanese media, citing security officials, said an Israeli drone strike targeted the observers in the southern village of Wadi Katmoun near the border town of Rmeich.

The Israeli military denied it was responsible on social media platform X. “Contrary to the reports, the IDF did not strike a @UNIFIL vehicle in the area of Rmeish this morning.”

Tenenti said UNIFIL was “investigating the origin of the explosion” but it was difficult to put investigators on the ground immediately because of the ongoing exchange of fire.

“The targeting of peacekeepers is unacceptable,” Tenenti said. “We repeat our call for all actors to cease the current heavy exchanges of fire before more people are unnecessarily hurt.”