Israeli drone strikes UN vehicle during exchange with Hezbollah, four wounded - report

The IDF denied hitting a vehicle carrying United Nations observers outside the southern Lebanese border town of Rmeish.

UN peacekeepers (UNIFIL) patrol the border with Israel, in the village of Khiam, Lebanon August 26, 2019.  (photo credit: REUTERS/ALI HASHISHO)
UN peacekeepers (UNIFIL) patrol the border with Israel, in the village of Khiam, Lebanon August 26, 2019.
(photo credit: REUTERS/ALI HASHISHO)

Lebanese terror organization Hezbollah claimed to have struck Israel's Ramim ridge, near the Lebanese border, on Saturday morning after Lebanese media reported that the IDF carried out three strikes in the southern village of Taybeh.

Local residents reported that a rocket fell in the northern border town of Margaliot later on Saturday, with no siren sounding prior. According to Walla, the locals observed a "louder explosion than usual."

Lebanon's National News Agency further reported that Israeli drones were observed flying over the Iqlim al-Tuffah and Nabatieh regions.

Israeli strike hits car carrying UN observers near south Lebanon border, security sources say

One Israeli drone strike reportedly hit a vehicle carrying United Nations observers outside the southern Lebanese border town of Rmeish, two security sources told Reuters.

 IDF (Israel Defense Force) Artillery Corps seen firing into Lebanon, near the Israeli border with Lebanon, on August 6, 2021.  (credit: BASEL AWIDAT/FLASH90)
IDF (Israel Defense Force) Artillery Corps seen firing into Lebanon, near the Israeli border with Lebanon, on August 6, 2021. (credit: BASEL AWIDAT/FLASH90)

According to Lebanese reports, four people were injured in the strike.

Four United Nations observers were wounded on Saturday when a shell exploded near them as they were carrying out a foot patrol in southern Lebanon, the UN peacekeeping mission said, adding it was still investigating the origin of the blast.

The UNIFIL statement said the targeting of peacekeepers is "unacceptable." Two security sources had told Reuters the observers were wounded in an Israeli strike but the Israeli military denied striking in the area.

One of the security sources said the car carried three UN technical observers and one Lebanese translator. That source, and a second security source, said that the Israeli strike had left several of those in the car wounded.

Various responses to the incident

There was no immediate comment from the UN peacekeeper mission in southern Lebanon UNIFIL, which accompanies technical observers monitoring the Blue Line, which delineates the border between Lebanon and Israel.

Israel did not carry out an airstrike on a vehicle carrying United Nations observers in southern Lebanon on Saturday, the IDF said.


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"Contrary to the reports, the IDF did not strike a UNIFIL vehicle in the area of Rmeish this morning," the IDF said.

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati condemned the 'targeting' of UN forces in southern Lebanon that wounded three observers.

This is a developing story.