The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Lebanon reports that several Hezbollah drones have struck its bases lately, urging both the Iranian-backed group and Israel to refrain from activities close to its locations.
The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) reported that three drones exploded “within meters” of the group’s Naqoura headquarters in southern Lebanon on Monday. The following day, it reported that a “presumed” Hezbollah drone exploded within the headquarters, while another hit close by. UNIFIL reported that there were no injuries from the drone strikes, although several structures were harmed.
On Sunday, an unarmed drone thought to be of Iranian design touched down at the same facility, according to a statement from UNIFIL.
On Tuesday, a Hezbollah armed fiber-optic drone collided with the roof of a UN facility close to Hinniyah but failed to detonate, according to UNIFIL. The UN referred to fiber-optic drones for the first time, which Hezbollah has employed with lethal success to overcome Israeli signal jamming and target Israeli troops.
“UNIFIL consistently urges all parties to refrain from activities near United Nations positions and personnel, and … to steer clear of any actions that may jeopardize peacekeepers,” stated the organization.
UNIFIL has been functioning along the Israel-Lebanon border for almost fifty years, but its mandate is scheduled to conclude at the end of next year following the United States’ vote to terminate its operations.
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