Beirut: Hezbollah reported on Sunday that it was engaged in combat with Israeli forces attempting to infiltrate Ramiya village in southern Lebanon. This escalation comes as a third U.N. peacekeeper was injured amid the ongoing conflict between the Iran-backed Lebanese group and Israel.
Israeli airstrikes have rattled the U.N. peacekeepers’ main base in southern Lebanon, leading U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and several Western nations to denounce these attacks. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) described the situation as a “serious development,” emphasizing that the safety of U.N. personnel and property must be assured.
France summoned Israel’s ambassador, joining Italy and Spain in a statement condemning the attacks as “unjustifiable.” U.S. President Joe Biden expressed his concerns, urging Israel not to target UNIFIL forces. In a sharp reaction, Russia voiced its “outrage” and called for Israel to abstain from “hostile actions” against peacekeepers.
In a separate escalation, Israeli military operations in Gaza on Saturday resulted in the deaths of at least 29 Palestinians, according to medical sources. Ground forces have intensified their efforts in the Jabalia area, where international relief organizations report that thousands of people remain trapped. Residents in Jabalia, the largest of the historic refugee camps located in northern Gaza, reported heavy bombardment from Israeli forces, both aerial and ground-based.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) indicated that Hezbollah had launched nearly 320 projectiles from Lebanon into Israel on Saturday, without providing further specifics. As a precaution, the IDF declared certain areas around towns in northern Israel closed to the public.
Evacuation orders were issued to residents of 23 southern Lebanese villages, instructing them to move north of the Awali River, which flows from the western Bekaa Valley into the Mediterranean Sea. The military stated that these evacuations were necessary for the safety of residents due to increased Hezbollah activities, alleging that the group was using civilian areas to conceal weapons and execute attacks on Israel. Hezbollah has denied these accusations.
Furthermore, the Israeli military released new evacuation orders for two neighborhoods on the northern edge of Gaza City, labeling the area a “dangerous combat zone.” In response, Gaza’s Hamas-run interior ministry urged residents not to evacuate.
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah militants erupted last year when the Iranian-backed group began launching rockets at northern Israel in solidarity with Hamas, coinciding with the onset of the Gaza war. Israel has escalated its military operations recently, targeting southern Lebanon, Beirut’s southern suburbs, and the Bekaa Valley, resulting in the deaths of many top Hezbollah leaders and the deployment of ground troops across the border. In retaliation, Hezbollah has intensified its rocket attacks into Israel.
According to Lebanon’s government, Israel’s expanded military operations have displaced over 1.2 million people, with more than 2,100 casualties and 10,000 injuries reported over the course of more than a year of conflict. This toll does not differentiate between civilians and combatants but includes numerous women and children.
Calls for a Diplomatic Resolution from the U.S.
The Middle East remains on high alert for further escalation, particularly in anticipation of Israel’s response to an Iranian missile barrage on October 1, which was a reaction to Israel’s assassination of Hezbollah leader Syed Hassan Nasrallah in Tehran. U.S. officials believe that Israel has narrowed its targets to military and energy infrastructure, although there are no indications that Israel plans to strike nuclear facilities or conduct assassinations. Unnamed U.S. officials have suggested that Israel has yet to finalize decisions regarding the timing and specifics of any military action.
U.S. and Israeli officials have indicated that a response from Israel could occur during the ongoing Jewish Yom Kippur holiday, according to reports from NBC.
In a broader context, a Syrian security source reported that the U.S.-led coalition in Syria had targeted Iran-linked sites near Deir el-Zor airport on Friday night. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq declared on Sunday that it had conducted drone strikes on a military site in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, framing the actions as part of its support for the Palestinian people and Lebanon. The group pledged to continue escalating attacks against Israeli positions.
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The UNIFIL mission reported on Saturday that a third peacekeeper was injured in an Israeli strike when he was shot on Friday. The peacekeeper is now in stable condition following surgery to remove the bullet. UNIFIL noted that its position in Ramyah suffered significant damage due to explosions resulting from nearby shelling, although it did not specify who was responsible for the attacks.
Two UN peacekeepers had previously been wounded by an Israeli strike near their watchtower at UNIFIL’s main base in Naqoura on Friday. UNIFIL comprises over 10,000 personnel, with Italy, France, Malaysia, Indonesia, and India being among the largest contributors.
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U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin expressed “deep concern” during a call with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant regarding reports of Israeli forces firing on U.N. peacekeeping positions in Lebanon. He urged Israel to ensure the safety of both UN personnel and the Lebanese military, according to a Pentagon statement. Austin also emphasized the necessity of shifting from military operations in Lebanon to a diplomatic solution as soon as feasible.
Despite calls from the United States and other allies for a ceasefire in Lebanon and Gaza, Israel has rejected these demands.
