Today, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that a French soldier serving in the United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon was killed.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Macron identified the soldier as Florian Montorio from the 17th Parachute EngineerRegiment, deployed in Lebanon with the United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon (UNIFIL). He mentioned that three additional soldiers were injured.
Macron stated that “all indications point to Hezbollah being responsible for this attack,” and urged the Lebanese government to promptly apprehend those involved.
Hezbollah rejected the claim. In a statement, it urged “care in attributing blame and accountability regarding the incident while awaiting the Lebanese army’s investigation to completely ascertain the circumstances.”
UNIFIL stated that its patrol was removing explosive ordnance on a road in the village of Ghanduriyah in southern Lebanon when it “was fired upon with small arms from non-state actors.” The force reported that two of the three injured soldiers sustained critical wounds.
Nawaf Salam, Lebanon’s prime minister, denounced the assault and stated that he ordered a prompt inquiry.
“This reckless conduct undoubtedly harms Lebanon and its relationships with allied and supportive nations globally,” he stated.
The assault occurs during a 10-day truce between Israel and Lebanon, which was declared by US President Donald Trump on Thursday after the two nations engaged in their first direct discussions in decades earlier this week in Washington, DC.
Israel’s military accused Hezbollah of breaching the ceasefire on Saturday, claiming it spotted multiple “terrorists” nearing its troops and presenting an imminent danger. The military stated it “carried out targeted attacks on the militants.”
This post has been revised to include a statement from Hezbollah.
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