Tension and Confrontation Between Residents and UNIFIL in Southern Lebanon – Details of a Soldier Being Slapped..

10 June 2025, 10:21 AM

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الجيش اللبناني وقوات اليونيفيل في جنوب لبنان - Lebanese Army and UNIFIL forces in southern Lebanon — lebarmy.gov.lb

Southern Lebanon witnessed security tensions this morning after patrols belonging to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) were subjected to attacks in the towns of Bidiass and Helousieh Tahta, in the Tyre district of southern Lebanon. This prompted the Lebanese army to deploy additional security reinforcements and pursue those involved.

Incident Details

According to accounts shared by local media, citing residents, a UNIFIL unit entered private land in Bidiass, where a number of residents blocked its path, leading to a verbal altercation before the patrol withdrew. Later, another patrol attempted to pass through the Helousieh – Deir Qanoun Al-Nahr road but was also confronted by a group of young men who insisted that the force be accompanied by the Lebanese army to proceed. A video recording documented an incident where a UN peacekeeping soldier was slapped in the face during the patrol’s attempt to cross the road.

UNIFIL’s Account

In an official statement, UNIFIL explained that its troops were conducting a pre-planned patrol coordinated with the Lebanese army in the Helousieh Tahta area when they encountered a group of civilians using aggressive means, including stone-throwing. The statement confirmed that one peacekeeping soldier sustained injuries, but no severe casualties were reported.

Field Measures and Lebanese Army Response

UNIFIL stated that its troops employed “non-lethal measures” to protect themselves and ensure security in the area. It also confirmed that the Lebanese army was promptly notified and arrived at the scene, successfully containing the situation, enabling the patrol to resume operations.

Additionally, the Lebanese army deployed reinforcements to Deir Qanoun Al-Nahr and began tracking individuals involved in the assaults on peacekeeping forces.

UNIFIL: Freedom of Movement is Part of Its Mandate

UNIFIL emphasized that freedom of movement is a fundamental condition for carrying out its mandate under UN Security Council Resolution 1701. It stressed that any restrictions, whether coordinated with the Lebanese army or not, constitute a direct violation of the resolution.

The mission urged Lebanese authorities to take the necessary measures to prevent such incidents from recurring, asserting that targeting its troops is “unacceptable.”

Official and Political Reactions

Lebanon’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants condemned the “assault on a UNIFIL member,” stressing the need to respect the security and safety of mission personnel and their equipment. The ministry reaffirmed Lebanon’s support for UNIFIL’s role and its efforts to maintain security and stability in the south, in line with Resolution 1701.

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam strongly denounced what he described as “repeated attacks” on UNIFIL, warning of the risks such actions pose to southern Lebanon’s security and national interests. He called on security and judicial authorities to act swiftly in apprehending the perpetrators and ensuring such violations do not recur.

Former Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt urged the protection of international forces in southern Lebanon, describing their presence as “more than necessary” to avoid plunging into uncertainty amid global unrest.

Amal Movement, in a statement, said UNIFIL has always been an active witness to what it described as the persistent Israeli aggression and efforts to undermine the international force. The party called for solidarity with UNIFIL, which it stated has become an integral part of the southern Lebanese social fabric.