Key facts
- The UN Security Council condemned the killing of Serbian peacekeeper Milovan Jovanovic on June 4 in southern Lebanon.
- Jovanovic is the seventh UNIFIL peacekeeper killed since March 2.
- Previous incidents include the deaths of four Indonesian peacekeepers and two French peacekeepers.
- Investigations into the killings of the Indonesian peacekeepers suggest Israeli tank fire and a Hezbollah device.
- France's President Macron attributed the deaths of French peacekeepers to Hezbollah.
- The UN Security Council has requested an investigation into Jovanovic's death.
- Iran's Foreign Minister indicated a memorandum of understanding with the US to end the war is nearing finalization.
- US President Donald Trump commented on the potential US-Iran deal, calling some reports 'fake news'.
The UN Security Council has condemned the killing of Serbian peacekeeper Milovan Jovanovic, who died on June 4 in southern Lebanon. Jovanovic is the seventh UNIFIL peacekeeper to be killed since Israel escalated its actions against Lebanon on March 2.
Previous incidents include the deaths of four Indonesian peacekeepers and two French peacekeepers. Preliminary findings suggest Israeli tank fire was responsible for one attack on the Indonesian peacekeepers, while an explosive device, likely placed by Hezbollah, caused the second. France's President Emmanuel Macron stated Hezbollah was responsible for the deaths of the French peacekeepers.
The UN Security Council has requested UNIFIL to investigate the attack that killed Jovanovic. China, a permanent member of the council, has indicated that most members believe now is not the appropriate time to withdraw UNIFIL, whose mandate is set to end in 2026.
Separately, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that a memorandum of understanding with the United States to end the war is nearing finalization, urging an end to media speculation. US President Donald Trump reposted Araghchi's statement on his Truth Social platform, after previously dismissing some reports about the deal as 'fake news'. The US military's Central Command also reported downing Iranian drones in the Strait of Hormuz, asserting the trade corridor remains open.