UN reports peacekeeper killed, records hundreds of violations in southern Lebanon

Farhan, a United Nations spokesperson, said the UN is "alarmed by the overnight escalation" in southern Lebanon and reported that UNIFIL observed 201 violations of Lebanese airspace, nearly 288 hours of overflight time, and more than 2,100 firing incidents originating from Israel Defense Forces positions. He said dozens of projectile trajectories, "presumably fired by Hezbollah," also crossed the Blue Line.

The briefing said the heaviest impacts were east of sectors and areas north of the Litani River. Farhan described incidents in which unmanned aerial vehicles dropped grenades near a UNIFIL convoy; peacekeepers fired in self-defense, shot down one drone, and the convoy withdrew to safety. He added that UNIFIL patrols were blocked in separate freedom-of-movement incidents, including obstruction by an IDF tank that forced a patrol to return to base.

The spokesperson said, "A drone dropped a grenade near a UNIFIL convoy" and later a second device was dropped; no injuries were reported in that specific convoy incident. Separately, he confirmed that "a UNIFIL position near Marjayun" came under mortar fire on June 5 and Staff Sergeant Milivan Yvanovich of Serbia was killed.

The UN reiterated calls for restraint and for parties to fully abide by the ceasefire jointly announced by Lebanon, Israel and the United States. The briefing repeated that "civilians and civilian infrastructures must not be targeted" and reminded parties of their obligations under international humanitarian law.

The briefing also highlighted humanitarian consequences: five collective shelters in South Governorate were evacuated and local authorities reported shelters at full capacity. The spokesperson warned that evacuation orders for 17 villages across southern governorates and the Beqaa region raise questions about the orders' safety and feasibility.

The UN said it continues daily activities to support affected civilians and to escort ambulances and other humanitarian movements where possible, while urging de-escalation and safe, unhindered humanitarian access. The briefing did not announce any new UN decisions or resolutions.

The UN will continue to monitor the situation and update partners and member states as new information becomes available.