The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed on Sunday that its troops opened fire near two UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon, attributing the incident to a &ldquo;misclassification&rdquo; caused by poor weather conditions.
According to an official statement, Israeli troops identified &ldquo;two suspects&rdquo; in the Al-Hamames area and fired warning shots, prompting them to withdraw. 
A later review determined that the individuals were UN peacekeepers patrolling in the vicinity.
"The IDF emphasizes that no deliberate fire was directed toward UNIFIL soldiers, and the matter is being handled through official liaison channels," the statement said. 
The military added that operations would continue to &ldquo;remove any threat&rdquo; to Israel.
Earlier, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) reported that Israeli troops fired from a Merkava tank stationed near an Israeli post, with heavy machine-gun rounds landing approximately five meters from peacekeepers on foot. 
The peacekeepers took cover and contacted Israeli forces through liaison channels, requesting an immediate halt to the gunfire. 
They were able to withdraw safely after about 30 minutes when the tank retreated. No injuries were reported.
UNIFIL described the incident as a &ldquo;serious violation&rdquo; of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and urged the IDF to &ldquo;cease any aggressive behavior and attacks on or near peacekeepers.&rdquo; 
The mission reiterated that its personnel are working to maintain stability along the border.
UN positions in Lebanon have been targeted multiple times since cross-border tensions escalated following the Gaza conflict in October 2023. 
Despite a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, Israel has continued periodic strikes in Lebanon, citing security threats, and has maintained some border positions beyond a February 18 withdrawal deadline.
&mdash;IANS

A UNIFIL peacekeeper patrols a foggy border area in southern Lebanon as Israeli military positions stand in the distance

IDF calls firing on UN peacekeepers an error caused by poor visibility in bad weather

Israel Blames Error For Firing On UN Peacekeepers

IDF calls firing on UN peacekeepers an error caused by poor visibility in bad weather

November 17, 2025 | 16:24 IST