French peacekeeper killed in Lebanon as troops come under attack
UNIFIL peacekeeper (photo: Getty Images)
A UN peacekeeping force came under attack in southern Lebanon on the second day of the ceasefire with Israel, resulting in the killing of a French soldier and the wounding of several others, according to Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam.
The Lebanese premier condemned the attack on the French contingent of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and ordered an immediate investigation to identify and detain those responsible.
"I condemn the assault today on elements of the French battalion in UNIFIL," he said.
The BFMTV reports that a UNIFIL spokesperson confirmed the incident occurred in the morning in southern Lebanon and said an investigation is already underway.
French President Emmanuel Macron said that Sergeant-Chef Florian Montorio was killed in the attack. Three other soldiers were injured and evacuated.
"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.
He said France demands that Lebanese authorities immediately detain those responsible, adding that the attack is likely linked to Hezbollah.
French Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin clarified that the soldier was ambushed by an armed group while carrying out a mission to clear a route to UNIFIL positions. According to her, he was struck by small-arms fire.
She added that Montorio had served in the French army for 18 years.
The incident occurred shortly after Israel and Lebanon agreed to a temporary ceasefire. The deal followed the first talks between the sides in more than 30 years, held in Washington with US mediation.
At the same time, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stressed that the agreement does not affect operations against Hezbollah.
On April 17, the sides officially agreed to a 10-day ceasefire, but the situation in the region remains unstable.
