UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed sorrow over the passing of a second French soldier serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) due to injuries sustained in an attack on Saturday. The UN chief emphasized the need to halt assaults on peacekeepers, labeling them as severe breaches of international humanitarian law that could constitute war crimes. Guterres stressed the importance of investigating all peacekeeper attacks promptly and ensuring accountability for those responsible.
In response to the incident, Guterres welcomed the commitment of Lebanese authorities to address the attack and urged all parties to adhere to the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire announced recently. He reiterated the UN’s dedication to supporting diplomatic initiatives aimed at extending the cessation of hostilities and fully implementing Security Council Resolution 1701, designed to resolve the 2006 conflict between Hezbollah and Israel. The Secretary-General conveyed his deepest sympathies to the family, friends, and colleagues of the deceased peacekeeper, as well as to the French government and people.
The fallen French soldier was identified as Corporal Anicet Girardin, a 31-year-old specialist dog handler who succumbed to his injuries in a Paris hospital. Girardin was part of a UNIFIL French contingent engaged in clearing a road in southern Lebanon to restore access to isolated UNIFIL positions when the attack occurred. This incident marks the second fatality among the peacekeepers involved, with another soldier severely injured and undergoing treatment in Paris. Additionally, a fourth peacekeeper with minor injuries has returned to duty in southern Lebanon.
