A UN representative reports that Israeli troops targeted a United Nations’ peacekeeper watchtower in southern Lebanon, resulting in two injuries. This marks the third consecutive day that the Israeli army has attacked peacekeeper stations in their conflict with Hizbullah.
On Thursday, late-night Israeli air strikes in the centre of Beirut led to the loss of 22 lives, and over 100 others were injured, according the Lebanese government. The bombing operation was intended for Hizbullah’s high-ranking official, Wafiq Safa, who managed to evade the attack, as reported by three security personnel.
Meanwhile in Israel’s north, a Thai worker died when an anti-tank missile, launched by Hizbullah, struck a farming locale. Israel’s air force retaliated by taking out a Hizbullah leader who orchestrated anti-tank missile attacks in the Ramot Naftali region in northern Israel, according to military reports. Hizbullah, however, has yet to respond to this news.
The hostilities between Israel and Hizbullah, supported by Iran, escalated a year ago when they began to assist the militant Palestinian group Hamas at the start of the Gaza war. The situation has significantly worsened recently, with Israel launching airstrikes on various districts in Lebanon including Beirut’s southern suburbs, the south, and the Bekaa Valley. This resulted in the death of several top Hizbullah officials and pushed Israeli soldiers to the forefront in several parts of southern Lebanon.
According to a UN source, the UNIFIL peacekeeper tower, which was attacked by Israeli forces on Friday, is positioned within the main force’s primary headquarters in Naqoura. The same source also reported that on Thursday, two other peacekeepers were injured when an Israeli tank attacked another watchtower at the same base.
The source also shared that the Israeli forces violated the boundaries of another UNIFIL site, which they had fired at the day before. The Israeli military has yet to issue a statement regarding the attacks reported on Friday.
In a meeting at the UN in New York on Thursday, Israel’s ambassador Danny Danon advised the UNIFIL to shift their position 5km (3 miles) northwards to steer clear of the increasing hostilities.
In a declaration made on Thursday, the Israeli military claimed to have conducted operations in Naqoura, close to a base of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) advised that UN personnel in the vicinity take shelter before the area was opened to gunfire. It was highlighted in the Israeli communication that they consistently stay in contact with the UNIFIL.
The UN’s peacekeeping overseer, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, warned the Security Council the same day that over 10,400 UN peacekeepers stationed in Lebanon are under increasing threat. Since the latter part of September, operations have been at a standstill.
Reactions have come from The White House regarding concerns about alleged attacks by Israeli forces on UN posts, and they are seeking further information from Israel. The primary goal of Israel’s Lebanon operation, as declared by them, is to make it safe for the massive population displaced from northern Israel by the rocket strikes of Hizbullah over the prior year to return home.
Israel’s recent aggressive actions have caused the displacement of more than a million individuals in Lebanon in the recent weeks. The Middle East continues in a state of high alert for potential escalation, as they await a response from Israel following an Iranian missile strike on October the 1st.
Kamala Harris, the US vice-president and the Democratic party’s presidential candidate, advocated for de-escalation. “We need to achieve a ceasefire,” Harris stated while leaving Las Vegas, commenting on the current state of affairs in Gaza and Lebanon.
Nonetheless, a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon is far from being achieved. While Israel’s actions causing civilian fatalities frequently receive criticism from Washington, there’s been no significant policy shift in response.