Two UN peacekeepers were injured by an Israeli strike near their watchtower in southern Lebanon on Friday, according to Israel's military. Simultaneously, explosions rocked the peacekeepers' main base in the region for the second time in 48 hours as Israeli forces clashed with Hezbollah.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and several Western nations condemned the attacks. The UNIFIL force described the incident as a 'serious development' and emphasized the necessity of ensuring the security of UN personnel and property. France summoned Israel's ambassador and, along with Italy and Spain, issued a statement deeming such attacks 'unjustifiable'. US President Joe Biden urged Israel not to target UNIFIL forces. Russia expressed 'outrage' and demanded that Israel refrain from 'hostile actions' against peacekeepers.
In Gaza, medics reported that at least 13 Palestinians were killed late on Friday by Israeli strikes on a home in Jabalia. Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) stated that thousands of people are trapped there a week after Israel launched an offensive to prevent Hamas from regrouping.
The Israeli military confirmed that two peacekeepers were injured by Israeli fire during engagements with Hezbollah and expressed 'deep concern'. They had been warned hours earlier to seek shelter. The United Nations identified both injured peacekeepers as Sri Lankan nationals. The watchtower that came under fire is located at UNIFIL's main base in Naqoura. UNIFIL also reported that an Israeli bulldozer had knocked down barriers at UN positions near the Blue Line, which marks the frontier between Lebanon and Israel, while tanks had moved into the area.
UNIFIL comprises over 10,000 personnel, with Italy, France, Malaysia, Indonesia, and India being among the largest contributors. The chief of staff of Ireland’s Defence Forces, which has around 340 personnel serving in UNIFIL, described Friday’s attack on the observation tower as deliberate.
Two Indonesian UN peacekeepers were injured on Thursday after falling from a watchtower following Israeli tank fire. Israel stated that its troops had opened fire nearby, and that Hezbollah fighters operated from areas near UNIFIL posts.
Hezbollah claimed late on Friday that the Israeli military had failed to advance into southern Lebanon and was facing significant resistance, resulting in heavy Israeli losses. The group warned settlers against remaining in homes in several northern Israeli towns, which it considered targets.
An Israeli strike in Beirut on Thursday killed 22 people and wounded 139, according to caretaker prime minister Najib Mikati. Lebanon's army reported that two soldiers were killed and three wounded when Israeli forces attacked a military post in Kafra in the south.
The Middle East remains on high alert for further escalation, awaiting Israel's response to an Iranian missile barrage on October 1. Israel's expanded operation has displaced more than 1.2 million people, according to Lebanon's government, which reports over 2,100 killed and 10,000 wounded in over a year of fighting. Hezbollah rockets have killed at least 54 people in Israel, more than half of them civilians, according to Israeli authorities.
