Israeli forces launched 455 projectiles into south Lebanon and breached Lebanese airspace 97 times between Friday, August 7, and Sunday, August 9, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) reported on Monday, August 10. This marks one of the most intense episodes of fire seen in recent months.

UNIFIL noted that Saturday alone accounted for 229 projectiles, the highest single-day total since June 21, 2026. An air strike also occurred in Al Mansuri on Sunday morning. Most of the airspace violations were carried out by drones, with helicopters and fighter jets also involved, according to UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq.

In addition to aerial activity, peacekeepers tracked two Israeli boats moving north through Lebanese waters before turning back south on Friday. Around the same time, two Israeli Merkava tanks fired three rounds eastward landing approximately 200 meters from a UN position, accompanied by about 30 rounds of small-arms fire directed toward the same area.

This surge in activity represents a sharp escalation from the previous weekend, when 113 projectiles—the highest daily count since June 21—were recorded. On August 5, peacekeepers observed 113 projectiles launched by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), which was then the highest daily number recorded by UNIFIL since June 21.

For nearly two decades, UN Security Council resolution 1701 has expanded UNIFIL’s role alongside the Lebanese national army, helping to maintain one of the longest periods of relative calm in the region. This calm allowed communities to rebuild, businesses to reopen, and tourism to gradually return. However, progress was disrupted by escalations beginning in late 2023, triggered by the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023 and followed by devastating conflicts in 2024 and 2026, resulting in loss, destruction, and displacement.

Despite these challenges, UNIFIL Deputy Head of Mission Hervé Lecoq affirmed that resolution 1701 still provides a path toward lasting peace. “All the initiatives that are being discussed at the moment build on [resolution] 1701,” he said.

Sources