One French peacekeeper was killed and three others were wounded Saturday when a U.N. patrol in southern Lebanon came under fire near the village of Ghandouriyeh.
According to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), the patrol was clearing explosive ordnance along a road in the village of Ghanduriyah to re-establish links with isolated UNIFIL positions when it came under attack.
“Tragically, one peacekeeper succumbed to his injuries and three others were injured, two of them seriously. The injured peacekeepers have been taken to medical facilities for treatment,” UNIFIL said.
This morning, a UNIFIL patrol clearing explosive ordnance along a road in the village of Ghanduriyah to re-establish links with isolated UNIFIL positions came under small-arms fire from non-state-actors.
— UNIFIL (@UNIFIL_) April 18, 2026
French President Emmanuel Macron identified the killed peacekeeper as Staff Sgt. Florian Montorio of the 17th Parachute Engineer Regiment from Montauban.
He blamed Hezbollah for the attack. “Everything suggests that responsibility for this attack lies with Hezbollah,” Macron wrote on X. “France demands that the Lebanese authorities immediately arrest those responsible.”
Le Sergent-chef Florian Montorio du 17eme régiment du génie parachutiste de Montauban est tombé ce matin au sud-Liban lors d’une attaque contre la FINUL.
Trois de ses frères d’armes sont blessés et ont été évacués.
La Nation s’incline avec respect…
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) April 18, 2026
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam condemned the attack on X, and said he has ordered an investigation and the arrest of those responsible. “It is self-evident that this irresponsible behavior causes great harm to Lebanon and its relations with friendly countries that support it in the world.”
استنكر باشد العبارات الاعتداء اليوم على عناصر من الكتيبة الفرنسية في اليونيفيل. وقد أعطيت تعليماتي المشددة بأجراء التحقيق الفوري للكشف عن ملابسات هذا الاعتداء ومحاسبة المرتكبين. فمن البديهي ان هذا المسلك غير المسؤول يلحق الأذى الكبير بلبنان وعلاقاته مع الدول الصديقة الداعمة له في…
— Nawaf Salam نواف سلام (@nawafsalam) April 18, 2026
Hezbollah denied responsibility for the attack and described the allegations as “baseless.”
It called for caution in making judgements, pending the Lebanese army’s investigation. The group also urged UNIFIL and the Lebanese army to continue coordinating with local authorities on its operations.
The attack occurred after a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon took effect Thursday.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who also condemned the attack, called on Hezbollah and Israel to respect the ceasefire.
“This is the third incident in recent weeks to have resulted in the deaths of peacekeepers serving in Lebanon. These attacks must stop. All actors must respect the cessation of hostilities & the ceasefire,” Guterres said.
I strongly condemn Saturday’s attack on @UNIFIL_ during which one French peacekeeper was killed & another three were injured.
I extend my deepest condolences to the family, friends & colleagues of the fallen peacekeeper, and wish a full & fast recovery to the injured…
— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) April 18, 2026
In late March, three Indonesian peacekeepers were killed in separate incidents, including an explosion that destroyed a UNIFIL vehicle and a projectile strike a day earlier.
The peacekeeping mission was established in 1978 by the U.N. Security Council after Israel’s invasion of southern Lebanon. Its original mandate was to confirm Israel’s withdrawal, help restore peace, and support the Lebanese government in reestablishing authority in the south.
Its role was expanded following the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war, when Security Council Resolution 1701 strengthened its mandate to monitor the ceasefire along the Blue Line, the de facto border between Lebanon and Israel, in coordination with the Lebanese army.
Since its establishment in 1978, more than 330 peacekeepers have been killed.
