France has accused the militant group Hezbollah of being behind a deadly ambush on United Nations peacekeepers in Lebanon, in which one French soldier was killed and three others injured.
President Emmanuel Macron said that “everything indicates” Hezbollah’s responsibility for the attack and called on Lebanese authorities to identify and arrest those involved.
The incident took place just days after a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, a period intended to create space for broader negotiations following weeks of fighting.
Hezbollah has denied any involvement, urging caution and stating that conclusions should not be drawn before the results of an ongoing investigation by the Lebanese army.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the attack, while an initial assessment by UNIFIL suggested the assault may have been carried out by the Iran-backed group, though details have not been independently verified.
French authorities said the fallen soldier, Florian Montorio, was killed by a direct shot during the ambush as his unit was moving toward an isolated UNIFIL position.
The attack highlights the continued risks facing international peacekeepers in Lebanon, where tensions remain high despite the ceasefire, and where UN forces have repeatedly come under fire during the recent escalation.