UN condemns strikes across Lebanon, reports UNIFIL injuries and a briefly detained peacekeeper

The United Nations strongly condemned recent strikes in Lebanon that resulted in civilian casualties and reported injuries to UNIFIL peacekeepers, the spokesperson said during a press briefing.

The spokesperson said that an exchange of rocket and artillery fire near Aatiriyya in Sector West injured six peacekeepers — one with a shrapnel wound and five with acoustic trauma — and damaged UN vehicles. He also recounted that an Israeli detention of a UNIFIL peacekeeper occurred after a logistics convoy was blocked but that the peacekeeper was released in less than an hour; the UN described such detention as "in violation of international law." The spokesperson urged all actors to ensure the safety and security of UN personnel and property.

Jeanine Hennis‑Plasschaert, the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, was quoted by the spokesperson calling for an immediate stop to hostile actions, direct negotiations and a road map based on Security Council Resolution 1701.

Reporters pressed whether consolidating UNIFIL personnel at headquarters in Naqoura would improve safety during an anticipated wind‑down. The spokesperson said that while the UN wants the fighting to stop, UNIFIL will "go about fulfilling its mandate up to the last minute of its mandate," and that detailed wind‑down planning is standard for peacekeeping missions and is communicated to the Security Council.

Why it matters: injuries to peacekeepers and detention incidents raise legal and operational questions about protection of UN personnel and the safety of mandated missions as hostilities continue. The UN emphasized obligations under international law and said it will continue liaison mechanisms with Israeli and Lebanese parties to mitigate threats.

The briefing did not announce any operational changes to UNIFIL deployment; officials said they will report further measures or travel plans for envoys as decisions are made and conveyed to the Security Council.