Lebanese army arrests six after gunmen attack UN peacekeepers in south

"The Lebanese army arrested six people after gunmen attacked international peacekeepers patrolling in the south of the country, as a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) delegation was to embark on a visit to the zone. The army said in a statement on Saturday that its intelligence directorate had detained six Lebanese suspects in connection with Thursday's attack, which saw six men riding on three mopeds opening fire on a UN peacekeepers' patrol vehicle without hurting anyone."

"For nearly five decades, its peacekeepers have acted as a buffer between Israel and Lebanon, with further monitoring of a ceasefire struck in November last year between Israel and Lebanese armed group Hezbollah. The arrests were made after Lebanese President Joseph Aoun met a visiting UNSC delegation on Friday, signalling that its members would be embarking on a tour of southern Lebanon to check the situation on the ground."

"Last year's truce was supposed to see Israeli forces withdrawing from Lebanon as Hezbollah disarmed. However, Israeli forces continue to occupy at least five positions inside Lebanese territory and have conducted near-daily attacks across Lebanon that have killed more than 300 people, according to the UN. Israel claims its operations are targeting Hezbollah members and infrastructure to prevent the armed group from rebuilding its military capabilities, but it has killed dozens of civilians in its attacks and destroyed residential buildings and critical infrastructure."

Lebanese army intelligence detained six suspects after six men on three mopeds opened fire on a UN peacekeepers' patrol vehicle in southern Lebanon without injuring anyone. The arrests followed President Joseph Aoun's meeting with a UN Security Council delegation planning a tour of southern Lebanon to assess conditions. UNIFIL peacekeepers have served as a buffer between Israel and Lebanon for nearly five decades and monitor a ceasefire struck in November. Israeli forces still occupy at least five positions inside Lebanon and have carried out near-daily attacks that the UN says have killed over 300 people. Israel says its operations target Hezbollah fighters and infrastructure.

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