Second French UN peacekeeper dies after attack on UNIFIL patrol in southern Lebanon

French troops carry the coffin of Sgt. Florian Montorio, killed in an attack on UNIFIL peacekeepers in southern Lebanon, April 19, 2026. (Photo/Reuters)

France has confirmed the death of a second soldier wounded in an attack on a UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) patrol in southern Lebanon, deepening concerns over the safety of peacekeepers operating in the region.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Wednesday that soldier Anicet Girardin had died from his injuries after being evacuated to France for treatment.

“Anicet Girardin has died this morning as a result of his injuries. He died for France,” Macron said on X.

Girardin had been critically wounded in the same April 18 attack that killed Adjutant Florian Montorio and injured two other French personnel during a UNIFIL patrol near the town of Ghandoorieh in southern Lebanon.

According to the French Ministry of Armed Forces, the patrol came under fire during an incident involving an armed group while operating in the area as part of the UN peacekeeping mission.

Girardin was repatriated to France on April 21 but later succumbed to his injuries.

Lebanon condemns attack

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun was informed of Girardin’s death and renewed his condemnation of the shooting, offering condolences to France and the UNIFIL command.

In a statement from the Lebanese presidency, Aoun said the fallen soldier had joined “a convoy of international forces’ martyrs” who had shed blood in southern Lebanon alongside members of the Lebanese army and other security forces.

He stressed that the sacrifice of international peacekeepers reflected the shared cost of maintaining stability in Lebanon’s south, an area that has remained tense amid continued cross-border violence and military operations.

Pressure on UNIFIL mission

The attack has renewed scrutiny over the security environment facing UNIFIL troops, who are tasked with monitoring the cessation of hostilities and supporting stability along the Israel-Lebanon border.

French troops are among the key contributors to the mission, which has faced growing risks as fighting and military activity continue in southern Lebanon despite repeated calls for restraint.

The deaths of Montorio and Girardin mark one of the deadliest recent incidents involving French peacekeepers in Lebanon and are likely to intensify calls for stronger protections for UN personnel on the ground.

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Source: TRT