German Warship In UNIFIL Peacekeeping Mission Shoots Down Drone Near Lebanon

A German warship operating under the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) shot down an unidentified drone off the coast of Lebanon on October 17, 2024.

The German warship, the corvette Ludwigshafen am Rhein, successfully brought the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) into a controlled crash in the water, per a German Defense Ministry official.

No damage was reported to the vessel or its crew, and the corvette continues to operate as part of the peacekeeping mission.

The warship’s defense systems attacked the drone as it approached, per the German military’s joint operations command. Parts of the UAV were later recovered for investigation, but officials have not provided further details about the drone’s origin.

UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti confirmed that a UAV approached one of its ships near southern Lebanon earlier on Thursday. He said that “electronic countermeasures were used, and the UAV fell and exploded on its own” and that the situation was under investigation.

Amid increasing concerns over the safety of UN troops, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has urged the UN to withdraw its peacekeepers from Lebanon, denying charges that Israel is intentionally targeting them.

Since the situation intensified, five peacekeepers have been reported injured in Lebanon.

The German government, the European Union, and the United Nations have firmly urged all parties to ensure that UNIFIL can carry out its mandate without interference.

Germany is involved in the mission by patrolling Lebanon’s water, with around 150 soldiers now deployed. Per a German joint operations command report, the drone was intercepted northwest of a UNIFIL base in Naqoura, near the German corvette.

The German military has declined to comment further on the incident, but investigations are underway to determine the drone’s origin and intent.

UNIFIL has been operating in Lebanon since 1978. Its mission is to monitor ceasefire agreements and assist the Lebanese government in maintaining security and protecting people in the region.

However, as tensions between Israel and Hezbollah rise, U.N. forces find themselves increasingly under threat.

Reference: Reuters

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