UN, western nations condemn Israel’s strikes on peacekeepers in Southern Lebanon

Hezbollah forces report fighting Israeli troops in Southern Lebanon, as Israeli strikes reportedly wound a third U.N. peacekeeper

Hezbollah forces claimed on Sunday that they were fighting Israeli troops attempting to infiltrate the village of Ramiya in southern Lebanon, as Israel’s ongoing military campaign against the Iran-backed group led to the wounding of a third U.N. peacekeeper.

The conflict, which has intensified over the past year, continues to escalate, drawing international condemnation over attacks on U.N. peacekeepers in the region.

Israeli airstrikes have targeted several areas in southern Lebanon, including the headquarters of the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). The U.N. and Western countries have condemned the attacks, calling them a violation of international law.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described the strikes as a “serious development,” emphasising that the safety of U.N. personnel must be guaranteed.

France, Italy, and Spain have also condemned the strikes, calling them “unjustifiable.” The French government summoned Israel’s ambassador, while U.S. President Joe Biden urged Israel to avoid targeting U.N. forces.

Also, Russia voiced outrage over the strikes and demanded an immediate cessation of hostilities against peacekeepers.

Meanwhile, Israeli forces have intensified their operations in Gaza, killing at least 29 Palestinians on Saturday, according to medical reports. Ground and air assaults have been concentrated in the Jabalia area, a densely populated region in northern Gaza where thousands of residents are reportedly trapped.

Hezbollah has continued to launch rockets into Israel, with the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) reporting nearly 320 projectiles fired from Lebanon on Saturday alone. In response, Israel has issued new evacuation orders for towns in northern Israel and two neighbourhoods on the northern edge of Gaza City.

The military has also ordered residents of 23 southern Lebanese villages to relocate northward due to increased Hezbollah activity, which Israel claims involves the concealment of weapons. Hezbollah has denied these accusations.

The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah reignited one year ago when the Lebanese group launched rockets into northern Israel in support of Hamas at the onset of the Gaza war. Since then, fighting has steadily intensified, with Israeli forces expanding their operations, targeting Hezbollah strongholds in southern Lebanon, the Bekaa Valley, and Beirut’s southern suburbs. Hezbollah has retaliated by firing rockets deeper into Israeli territory.

Lebanon’s government has reported over 1.2 million displaced persons due to the conflict, with more than 2,100 fatalities and 10,000 wounded, including numerous women and children. The toll reflects both combatants and civilians, highlighting the devastating impact of the prolonged conflict on the region.