French peacekeeper killed, 3 wounded in attack on UNIFIL patrol in Lebanon

A French peacekeeper serving with the U.N. mission in southern Lebanon was killed and three others were wounded when their patrol came under fire, according to French and U.N. officials. Two of the wounded were reported to be in serious condition.

The attack happened on Saturday near the village of Ghanduriyah in southern Lebanon, where a UNIFIL patrol was clearing explosive ordnance along a road to reconnect isolated U.N. positions, according to the U.N. peacekeeping mission.

French President Emmanuel Macron identified the peacekeeper who was killed as Sgt. Florian Montorio of the 17th Parachute Engineer Regiment based in Montauban. Macron said three of his fellow soldiers were wounded and evacuated.

UNIFIL said the patrol came under small-arms fire from non-state actors while carrying out its mission. The U.N. said one peacekeeper later died of his injuries and three others were wounded.

UNIFIL said its initial assessment indicated the gunfire came from non-state actors, allegedly Hezbollah. Macron said everything pointed to Hezbollah being responsible and demanded that Lebanese authorities immediately arrest those responsible.

UNIFIL condemned what it described as a deliberate attack on peacekeepers engaged in mandated duties, saying explosive ordnance disposal teams play a critical role in the area after recent hostilities.

The mission said it has opened an investigation into the circumstances of the attack and called on the Lebanese government to quickly identify and hold those responsible accountable.

UNIFIL said deliberate attacks on peacekeepers are grave violations of international humanitarian law and Security Council Resolution 1701, and may amount to war crimes.