A French soldier, identified as Staff Sergeant Florian Montorio from the 17th Parachute Engineer Regiment, was killed and three others were wounded on Saturday, the 18th, in southern Lebanon. The attack occurred while the soldiers, who were serving with the United Nations peacekeeping force UNIFIL, were clearing a road.
French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the unacceptable attack in calls with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. Macron stated that evidence suggests the Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah was likely responsible for the incident.
Hezbollah has denied any connection to the attack and urged caution in making judgments pending the results of an investigation by the Lebanese army. This deadly incident comes just days after Israel and Lebanon announced a 10-day ceasefire.