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Hezbollah stated on Sunday that it was engaging Israeli forces attempting to infiltrate the village of Ramiya in southern Lebanon. This conflict has led to a third UN peacekeeper being injured amid Israel‘s ongoing clashes with the Iran-supported Lebanese group.
Israeli strikes have impacted the peacekeepers’ main base in southern Lebanon. UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres and various Western nations have condemned these attacks.The UN peacekeeping force, UNIFIL, termed it a “serious development” and stressed that the security of UN personnel and property must be guaranteed.
France called in the Israeli ambassador and, alongside Italy and Spain, labeled the attacks as unjustifiable. US President Joe Biden has asked Israel to avoid targeting UNIFIL forces. Russia also voiced strong disapproval, demanding Israel cease ‘hostile actions’ against peacekeepers.
Israeli military actions in Gaza on Saturday resulted in at least 29 Palestinian deaths, with ongoing offensives in the Jabalia area. Residents in Jabalia reported heavy bombardment from Israeli air and ground forces.
The Israel Defense Force (IDF) indicated that nearly 320 projectiles had been launched from Lebanon into Israel by Hezbollah on Saturday. Consequently, regions around certain northern Israeli towns were declared off-limits to the public.
Southern Lebanese villages received evacuation orders due to heightened Hezbollah activities, according to Israeli claims that the group is hiding weapons and conducting attacks from these areas. Hezbollah denies these allegations.
New evacuation orders were also announced for two neighborhoods on the northern edge of Gaza City, which Israel described as a ‘dangerous combat zone.’ Conversely, Gaza’s Hamas-run interior ministry advised residents to stay put.
The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah began a year ago, triggered by the group’s rocket attacks on northern Israel in support of Hamas at the outset of the Gaza war. Israel has intensified its military action, including bombings in southern Lebanon and sending ground troops across the border.
Lebanon’s government reports that this conflict has resulted in over 1.2 million people being displaced and more than 2,100 deaths, along with 10,000 people injured. The death toll includes both civilians and combatants.
The Middle East is on high alert following an Iranian missile barrage on October 1 in retaliation for the assassination of Hezbollah leader Syed Hassan Nasrallah by Israel. The US-led coalition in Syria also targeted Iran-linked sites near Deir el-Zor airport on Friday night.
UNIFIL reported that a third peacekeeper was wounded by gunfire during an Israeli strike on Friday. Two other peacekeepers were injured near their watchtower at UNIFIL’s main base in Naqoura.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin expressed “deep concern” over Israeli forces firing on UN peacekeeping positions, urging Israel to safeguard UNIFIL personnel and the Lebanese military. Austin emphasized the urgent need for a diplomatic resolution.
Despite calls from the United States and other allies, Israel has rejected a ceasefire in Lebanon and Gaza.
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