French soldier killed in attack on UN peacekeepers in Lebanon

A French soldier was killed and three others wounded in an attack on United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) peacekeepers in southern Lebanon on April 18, 2026.

The attack occurred in the village of Ghandouriyeh while the patrol was clearing a road to reopen access to an isolated UNIFIL post.

The soldier died from direct small-arms fire, and two of the three wounded peacekeepers were seriously injured.

French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the attack as "unacceptable" and indicated that evidence pointed to the Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah as responsible.

He urged Lebanese authorities to take action against those responsible for the deliberate attack.

Hezbollah denied involvement, expressing surprise at accusations and calling for caution in assigning blame before investigations conclude.

French Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin said the patrol was ambushed during its mission to clear the route.

Lebanon's army condemned the shooting and has launched an investigation, with President Joseph Aoun offering condolences and ordering an immediate probe.

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam also condemned the attack and called for a thorough investigation.

The incident comes days after a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon took effect, a period seen as important for stabilising the region amid ongoing tensions related to the wider conflict involving the US, Israel, and Iran.

UNIFIL has been deployed since 1978 to maintain peace in Lebanon and has faced repeated attacks during recent conflicts.

The patrol was clearing explosive ordnance along a road to reconnect isolated positions when it came under fire from what UNIFIL described as non-state actors.

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