Deputy Director of UNIFEL Information Office, Candice Ardell said: ““Early this morning, UNIFIL peacekeepers heard powerful explosions near Tyre, Marjeyoun and Mahmoudiye.”  Later, the Israeli army confirmed that it had launched air strikes on three sites in southern Lebanon.

Ardell added that “UNIFEL Head of Mission and Force Commander Major-General Stefano Del Col, and as he has been doing throughout the previous day, communicated immediately with the parties and urged them to exercise maximum restraint in these dire moments, to avoid further escalation of the situation.” Pointing out that the “UNIFIL continues to coordinate with the parties, and work with the Lebanese Armed Forces to enhance security, and we have opened an investigation.”