Hezbollah reported engaging Israeli forces attempting to infiltrate Ramiya village in southern Lebanon, resulting in a third UN peacekeeper being wounded. Israeli strikes targeted the peacekeepers’ main base, drawing condemnation from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Western countries. The UNIFIL force labeled the situation a “serious development” and demanded the security of UN personnel and property to be guaranteed. France, Italy, and Spain jointly summoned Israel’s ambassador and denounced the attacks as “unjustifiable.”
US President Joe Biden urged Israel to refrain from targeting UNIFIL forces, while Russia expressed outrage and demanded Israel to cease hostile actions against peacekeepers. Israeli military strikes in Gaza claimed the lives of at least 29 Palestinians, with forces advancing deeper into the Jabalia area. Reports from Jabalia, the largest historic refugee camp in the north of the enclave, described relentless bombardment by Israeli forces from both air and ground.
Hezbollah allegedly launched nearly 320 projectiles from Lebanon into Israel, prompting the closure of areas around certain towns in northern Israel. Evacuation orders were issued for residents of 23 southern Lebanese villages to relocate north of the Awali River, citing increased Hezbollah activities and the alleged use of civilian sites to conceal weapons and launch attacks on Israel. However, Hezbollah denies hiding weapons among civilians.
The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, which began a year ago, has seen heightened military operations, resulting in the displacement of over 1.2 million people, with the death toll surpassing 2,100 and over 10,000 wounded. Amid the escalating tensions, the US called for a diplomatic resolution as Israel remained on alert for further escalation following an Iranian missile barrage and the assassination of Hezbollah leader Syed Hassan Nasrallah in Tehran.
The situation has further escalated with reports of a US-led coalition targeting Iran-linked sites near northeastern Syria’s Deir el-Zor airport, and the Islamic Resistance in Iraq claiming to have targeted a military site in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. The UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon reported a third peacekeeper wounded in an Israeli strike, emphasizing the need for safety for UN personnel and the Lebanese military.
The US Defense Secretary urged Israel to transition from military operations to a diplomatic pathway, highlighting deep concerns about recent reports of Israeli forces firing on UN peacekeeping positions in Lebanon and Gaza. However, Israel has rejected calls for a ceasefire in Lebanon and Gaza.
