A French soldier died and three others were wounded Saturday in an attack in southern Lebanon near UNIFIL positions, just two days after a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah took effect. French President Emmanuel Macron said Hezbollah was responsible; the militant group denied involvement and called for a full investigation before assigning blame.
The incident underscores the fragility of the 10-day ceasefire meant to pause a conflict that has killed nearly 2,300 people in Lebanon and displaced more than 1 million. On the same day as the attack on the French patrol, Israel conducted strikes in southern Lebanon citing ceasefire violations.
The Attack
The UNIFIL patrol was clearing explosive ordnance and attempting to reestablish links with isolated peacekeeping positions in the Ghandouriyeh area when it came under small arms fire from non-state actors, according to UNIFIL. Montorio was hit by a direct shot from a light weapon at close range in what French Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin described as an ambush. His comrades pulled him back under fire but were unable to resuscitate him.
Denial and Investigation
In a statement, Hezbollah said it had not carried out the attack and called for caution in assigning blame until Lebanon’s army completed a full investigation. The group expressed surprise at what it characterized as hasty accusations against it, particularly given what it described as silence from the same parties “when the Israeli enemy attacks UNIFIL forces.”
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam both condemned the attack. The Lebanese army said it was working with the Military Tribunal on the investigation and would continue close coordination with UNIFIL to identify those responsible.
The War’s Toll
The attack occurred just two days after a ceasefire took effect to pause the latest war between Israel and Hezbollah. That conflict began on March 2 when the Iran-backed militant group launched rockets into Israel following U.S. and Israeli strikes that killed top Iranian officials, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The war has killed nearly 2,300 people in Lebanon, displaced over 1 million, and caused widespread destruction.
The Ceasefire Tested
Later that day, Israeli military forces conducted aerial and ground strikes in southern Lebanon, saying they had identified ceasefire violations. Israel has not previously mentioned any “Yellow Line” in public ceasefire documents, but the military said militants tried to approach such a line on April 18.
Hezbollah official Mahmoud Qammati told Lebanese media that the group would not repeat what he called the “strategic patience policy” it adopted after a November 2024 truce. During that earlier ceasefire, Israel continued to carry out nearly daily airstrikes, according to the source material.
The 10-day ceasefire was negotiated through U.S. channels and announced by President Donald Trump. The agreement provides that Israel reserves the right to defend itself “at any time, against planned, imminent or ongoing attacks,” according to a U.S. State Department statement.