A French UN peacekeeper was killed in southern Lebanon Saturday on the second day of the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire, French President Emmanuel Macron announced. Three other French soldiers were injured in the attack.
“Sergeant-Chef Florian Montorio of the 17th Parachute Engineer Regiment from Montauban fell this morning in southern Lebanon during an attack against UNIFIL,” Macron wrote on X.
“Everything suggests that responsibility for this attack lies with Hezbollah. France demands that the Lebanese authorities immediately arrest the perpetrators and take their responsibilities alongside UNIFIL,” Macron added.
The attack severely tests the 10-day Israel-Lebanon ceasefire that took effect Thursday at 5 P.M. local time. Israel had agreed to respond only to “imminent threats” from Hezbollah. Macron’s direct blame on Hezbollah introduces new diplomatic pressure on both the ceasefire and Lebanese authorities.