Israel Holds Hezbollah Responsible for Blast Injuring UNIFIL Personnel

By Yoni Weiss

The IDF on Wednesday attributed a recent explosion injuring several UNIFIL personnel in southern Lebanon to Hezbollah.

On Saturday, three members of the international observer team and a local interpreter were wounded by a bomb while patrolling on foot in the Rmaich area.

“Based on IDF intelligence, the explosion in Rmaich last Saturday (30/3), causing injuries to UNIFIL members, was triggered by an explosive device previously planted by Hezbollah,” wrote Lt. Col. Avichay Adraee, the military’s Arabic spokesperson, on social media.

While unconfirmed Lebanese reports suggested the patrol was hit by a drone or artillery shell, UNIFIL, established in 1978 to confirm Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanon, has seen its mandate expanded following the 2006 Second Lebanon War. Currently, it is staffed by 10,500 monitors from 48 nations.

Hezbollah leaders have hinted at continuing rocket attacks to deter thousands of northern Israel residents from returning home. Israeli officials have urged Hezbollah’s disarmament and removal from southern Lebanon in compliance with U.N. Security Council resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 conflict.