Israel accused U.N. peacekeeping troops in Lebanon of shooting down on Sunday one of its drones that was conducting “routine intelligence gathering” near the border town of Kfar Kila.
But the U.N. said the Israel Defense Forces drone was flying in an “aggressive manner,” triggering “necessary defensive countermeasures.”
An IDF spokesman said Monday the drone activity did not pose a threat to personnel with the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon, a peacekeeping mission established in 1978 to monitor the Lebanon-Israel border.
“An initial inquiry suggests that UNIFIL forces stationed nearby deliberately fired at the drone and downed it,” IDF spokesman Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshoni posted Monday on X.
UNIFIL said the IDF’s actions violated U.N. Security Council resolutions and Lebanon’s sovereignty and showed disregard for the safety and security of international peacekeepers in southern Lebanon.
U.N. officials later accused Israel of launching a second drone that dropped a grenade near the site where the first unmanned aircraft was shot down. Moments later, an Israeli tank fired a shot toward the peacekeepers.
“Fortunately, no injury or damage was caused to the UNIFIL peacekeepers and assets,” the U.N. said.
The IDF acknowledged that its forces dropped a grenade near the area where the drone fell but said no fire was directed at UNIFIL forces.
“The incident is being further reviewed through military coordination channels,” Col. Shoshani said.
• Mike Glenn can be reached at mglenn@washingtontimes.com.
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