French Soldier Killed and Three Wounded in Attack in Southern Lebanon

A French soldier serving with the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Lebanon was killed and three others were wounded in an attack in southern Lebanon's Ghandouriyeh village on Saturday.

The attack took place in the Bint Jbeil area. In a preliminary assessment, UNIFIL described the attack as deliberate, saying it was carried out by non-state actors allegedly linked to the Hezbollah group. The UN mission said it was launching an investigation into the matter.

French President Emmanuel Macron strongly condemned the attack. In telephone calls with Lebanese leaders, he said the evidence pointed to Hezbollah and called for those responsible to be brought to justice, according to his office.

However, Hezbollah denied any involvement in the attack. The group said in a statement that it was important not to jump to conclusions prematurely.

Separately, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also condemned the attack. He called on all parties to respect the ceasefire to avoid further escalation.

The Lebanese army likewise condemned the incident and said it would carry out its own investigation. Of the three wounded UNIFIL peacekeepers, two were reported to be in serious condition.

The incident has highlighted the ongoing tensions in the region despite international efforts to maintain peace.