A Spanish patrol serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) came under fire on Monday after Israeli Merkava tanks fired shells near its position in southern Lebanon, raising fresh concerns over border security.
UNIFIL said the incident took place near the village of Sarda, despite prior notice being given to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) about the patrol’s movements. No injuries were reported.
According to UN officials, two Israeli tanks crossed into Lebanese territory and moved toward the area where the Spanish peacekeepers were operating. UNIFIL used liaison channels to request a halt as the tanks approached.
The request was ignored. One of the tanks fired three shells, with two landing about 150 meters from the Spanish patrol. As the troops withdrew for safety, UNIFIL said they were tracked by a tank-mounted laser.
The tanks reportedly remained in the area for around 30 minutes before withdrawing back across the Blue Line, the UN-demarcated border between Israel and Lebanon.
Spain strongly condemned the incident. The Spanish Foreign Ministry called it “unacceptable” and warned that it represented a serious escalation that endangered UN personnel.
UNIFIL said attacks or near-misses involving peacekeepers violate UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which governs the ceasefire and the mission’s mandate in southern Lebanon.
The incident follows several similar reports in January 2026, as UN patrols have faced repeated fire near the border. While a ceasefire has been in place since late 2024, tensions along the Lebanese-Israeli frontier remain high.
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